Chirping with Kloof Conservancy – The Spotted Ground Thrush

IN this edition we feature an endangered species as listed in the IUCN Red List – the Spotted Ground Thrush (Zoothera guttata).

The endangered listing means that it is at high risk of extinction in the wild.

As it is quite rare, most readers will most probably not have seen this bird, but it does occur in our area during the months of March to September.

Description
The Spotted Ground Thrush stands at 23cm and weighs approximately 68g. It is similar to the equally elusive Groundscraper Thrush, which is also found in the drier and more open parts of the Upper Highway but has grey upperparts. The Spotted Ground Thrush has olive upperparts as well as white wing-bars. Both are distinguished from other thrushes by their white underparts and the bold, black spots. The male is slightly larger but both sexes look the same.

Distribution
It is widely distributed in the eastern parts of Africa but populations are tiny and scattered. In South Africa, it is only found along the eastern coast from the forests near Eshowe to the Umtamvuna River in the Eastern Cape. The forests of Kloof are most probably at the western limit of its range in the Durban area. There is limited information available, but it is believed they spend their winters in our area and migrate south to the Umtavuna area of the Eastern Cape during the summer months

ALSO READ: Chirping with Kloof Conservancy – the African Harrier-Hawk

Habitat
The Spotted Ground Thrush is a coastal dune forests species and, in our area, will only be found in dense riverine forests.

Feeding
It feeds almost exclusively on the ground and scratches through leaf litter looking for earthworms or small insects.

Breeding
It is a monogamous species and generally builds an untidy nest in a tree or largish shrub, such as a Mackaya bella. Usually, up to three eggs are laid and they take about 14 days to hatch, after which both adults feed the chicks.

Threats
The biggest threat to this species is the loss of habitat through human developments that result in the destruction of their forest habitat. This has resulted in rapid population declines across its African distribution area. Even in the Upper Highway, housing developments that destroy or interfere with riverine areas will contribute to the decline.

ALSO READ: Chirping with Kloof Conservancy – the African Emerald Cuckoo

Local information
The species was recorded in our area many years ago, but with very few records in recent years until around 2015 when it was recorded in the Ronald’s Kloof area and, more recently, in the Longshadow Trail area of the Krantzkloof Nature Reserve.

Interesting facts
Although it is not frequently in contact with humans, it is not a shy bird and it will approach within a few metres while scratching for food.

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