Grey Native Thrush

by Rosemary Opala

Around Victoria Point, as usual about September - October, we heard the seasonal - and unmistakeable! - calls of Koel and Pheasant Coucal. Less common round busy Thompson's Beach area, this year was added the lovely, 4-note song of the Grey Native Thrush (Colluricinla harmonica, also known as Grey Shrike-Thrush). Often heard on Coochiemudlo and back of Redland Bay near the mangroves during spring and summer, the Thrush's ringing call is said to be audible for half a kilometre.

A rather stocky, medium size (23cm, including a fairly long tail) Grey Thrush presents as neat, if not showy. The male's upper parts are mid to dark grey with a brownish central tinge; underparts, paler grey. The female has a lightly striped chest and white-eye ring; juveniles are noticeably streaked on throat and breast. Attractive feature of this species is the bright 'button eye,' giving its owner a rather knowing look.

The species is common throughout Australia and Tasmania, and was one of our first songsters to be documented (as the Port Jackson Thrush, though is not actually a member of the Thrush family) .While a resident of forest and woodland, the Grey Thrush adapts nicely to quieter human habitats, where an individual may be seen in possession of the birdbath, or opportunistically picking off spiders (a favourite meal) from hanging baskets and window ledges.

In short, a handy bird to have around the property, foraging as it does both on the ground and among branches for insects - including the less tasty caterpillars ignored by fussier bids. Weed seeds are also eaten.

In the wild, Grey Thrush builds a large, cup-shaped nest in a range of situations from tree hollows and stumps to creek banks, even sometimes on the ground. In suburbia, garden shrubs or outbuildings may be used.

While the bird's bright, confiding eye is one of its attractions to us humans, it doesn't altogether signify avian innocence. The eye's owner is at times guilty of nest-robbing! However, we'll overlook this, for that beautiful song. (The notes, it seems, are also appreciated by the Lyre Bird, and are at times included in the latter's repertoire).