Orange-headed Thrush - Taxonomy

Taxonomy

This species was first described by John Latham in 1790 as Turdus citrinus, the species name meaning "citrine" and referencing the colour of the head and underparts. It has about 12 subspecies. Rasmussen and Anderton (2005) suggest that this complex may consist of more than one species.

• Z. c. citrina, the nominate subspecies breeds from northern Pakistan east along the Himalayas to eastern Bangladesh and possibly in western and northern Burma. It winters further south in India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.
• Z. c. cyanotus is mainly resident in Peninsular India south to Kerala. It has a white throat and face sides, with two black stripes running downwards from below the eyes. The spelling emendation cyanota is suggested by Rasmussen and Anderton.
• Z. c. amadoni (not always recognized) found in northeastern part of peninsular India (Madhya Pradesh and Orissa) has brighter orange crown and longer wings than cyanotus.
• Z. c. innotata breeds through most of South-East Asia from southern Burma and southwestern China to northwest Thailand, central and southern Laos, Cambodia and southern Vietnam. It winter further south in southern Burma, and much of the rest of Thailand into Malaysia. It is very similar to the nominate but the male is brighter or deeper orange and lacks white tips to the median coverts; the female is duller on head and underparts, with an olive tinge to the grey of the mantle and back.
• Z. c. melli breeds in southeastern China, and is partially migratory, regularly wintering in Hong Kong.
• Z. c. courtoisi breeds in eastern-central China; its wintering range is unknown.
• Z. c. aurimacula breeds in southern Vietnam, Hainan and possibly northern Laos. It resembles Z. c. cyanotus, but with a less defined head pattern. The face and neck-sides are whitish but flecked with orange or brownish and with weaker face stripes. The orange breast and flanks become paler orange on the belly and lower flanks.
• Z. c. andamensis is resident in the Andaman Islands.
• Z. c. albogularis is resident in the Nicobar Islands.
• Z. c. gibsonhilli breeds from southern Burma to southern Thailand, and winters further south at lower levels in Peninsular Thailand, on islands in the Gulf of Thailand, and into Malaysia. It is similar to the nominate subspecies, but averages slightly brighter or deeper orange on head and upperparts and also has a slightly longer, heavier bill, and white tips to the median coverts.
• Z. c. aurata is resident in the mountains of northern Borneo.
• Z. c. rubecula is resident in Western Java.
• Z. c. orientis is resident in Eastern Java and Bali and intergrades with Z. c. rubecula in the west of its range. The separation of this form from the western Javan subspecies has been questioned.