Malabar Whistling Thrush
The Malabar Whistling Thrush is a whistling thrush and they are also called as whistling schoolboy for the whistling calls that they make at dawn that have a very human quality. the species is a resident in the Western Ghats. Kingdom : Animalia Phylum : Chordata Class : Aves Order : Passeriformes Family : Muscicapidae Genus : Myophonus Species : M. horsfieldii External Morphology: This large thrush appears blackish with shiny patches of blue on the forehead and shoulders. The blue becomes visible only in oblique lighting. The bill and legs are black. Wings and tail are bluish in color. The sexes are indistinguishable and juveniles are more brownish and lack the blue forehead. Distribution and Habitat: The species is found all along the Western Ghats . Also locally in the Eastern Ghats. Populations are not Migratory but have been known to disperse widely in winter. Malabar whistling thrushes are usually found in dark undergrowth and dense riverine fore