About Turdus falcklandii Quoy & Gaimard, 1824
The austral thrush, scientific name Turdus falcklandii Quoy & Gaimard, 1824, is a medium-sized thrush native to southern South America. It has three recognized subspecies: the Magellan thrush (Turdus falcklandii magellanicus) found in southern Argentina and south and central Chile, the Falkland thrush (Turdus falcklandii falcklandii) found on the Falkland Islands, and Turdus falcklandii pembertoni found in the Neuquén and Río Negro provinces of Argentina. The austral thrush is similar to the European blackbird, another member of the genus Turdus. It has a yellow bill and yellow feet, dark brown head, back and wings, and paler underparts. The smaller T. f. magellanicus is more olive on its underside, while T. f. falcklandii has an underside that tends toward ochre. Both of these subspecies have streaked throats. In Chile and Argentina, the austral thrush lives in a variety of habitats ranging from Nothofagus forests to agricultural lands and even gardens. On the Falkland Islands, it also uses human-altered habitat, but it is most numerous in tussac grasses near beaches.
