Also saw this inside the Victoria Park today (23/1/2013). Not sure what it is. Looks like a Pale Thrush; but it has eyebrow
Author: lmichael Time: 25/01/2013 13:48
First winter female Eye-browed Thrush, I believe.
The underpart colouration may give rise to thoughts of Grey-sided Thrush but I think that the white moustachial stripe is too bold for that species and the breast colouration is a little too warm with definate buff tones. Also I would expect even first winter female Grey-sided Thrush to show a stronger white line below the eye and not such a strong moustachial. Legs look slender which is another feature which counts against Pale Thrush.
Mike Leven Author: tbob Time: 25/01/2013 14:54
Mike, Thanks for your description. I have been photographing over the past month a thrush which I have been calling a Pale Thrush. I believe all photos are of the same bird, am I right in calling it a Pale Thrush
I am a bit puzzled by the identification of this thrush as an Eye-browed Thrush.
This species shows a broader, whiter and longer supercilium than does the bird in the picture.
Secondly, even from this angle an Eye-browed Thrush would show an orange breast and orange flanks.
Grey-sided Thrush is very rare and I think it has never been recorded in Hong Kong.
The bird in the picture looks like a Pale Thrush to me. And I don't see why the legs -- which are actually hard to judge as it comes to their thickness in this picture -- would not fit this species.
The (excellent!) pictures on flickr show a first-winter female Pale Thrush, too. Author: lmichael Time: 28/01/2013 17:01
I am sure that you are both correct, though Eye-browed Thrush first winter female can show underparts this colour and a rather weak supercilium, I don't think that width and extent of the dark malar is right for Eye-browed Thrush and it does fit Pale Thrush.
Indeed, I see no reason why it is not the same bird as the Flickr photos.
My mistake!
Mike Leven
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