Turdus torquatus (*)

Cladus: Eukaryota
Supergroup: Opisthokonta
Regnum: Animalia
Subregnum: Eumetazoa
Cladus: Bilateria
Cladus: Nephrozoa
Cladus: Deuterostomia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Infraphylum: Gnathostomata
Superclassis: Tetrapoda
Classis: Aves
Subclassis: Carinatae
Infraclassis: Neornithes
Parvclassis: Neognathae
Ordo: Passeriformes
Subordo: Passeri
Parvordo: Passerida
Superfamilia: Muscicapoidea
Familia: Turdidae
Genus: Turdus
Species: Turdus torquatus
Subspecies: T. t. alpestris - T. t. amicorum - T. t. torquatus

Name

Turdus torquatus Linnaeus, 1758

Vernacular names
Internationalization
Ελληνικά: Χιονοκότσυφας
English: Ring Ouzel
Slovenščina: Komatar
Türkçe: Boğmaklı ardıç kuşu, Boğmaklı bakal

Reference

Systema Naturae ed.10 p.170

The Ring Ouzel (Turdus torquatus) is a European member of the thrush family Turdidae.

It is the mountain equivalent of the closely-related Common Blackbird, and breeds in gullies, rocky areas or scree slopes.

It breeds in the higher regions of western and central Europe and also in the Caucasus. Most populations are migratory, wintering in the Mediterranean region.

The Ring Ouzel is omnivorous, eating a wide range of insects, earthworms, rodents, lizards and berries. It nests in bushes or amongst rocks, laying several pale blue eggs, mottled with brown, in a neat cup-shaped nest.

It is territorial and normally seen alone or in pairs, although loose flocks may form on migration. When not breeding, several birds may also be loosely associated in good feeding areas, such as a fruiting tree, often with other thrushes.

The adult male is all black except for a white crescent on the breast and a yellowish bill. The wings have a silvery appearance due to white feather edgings. The male sings its loud and mournful song from trees or rocks.

The female is similar but duller, and younger birds often lack the breast crescent. The juvenile has brown plumage.

This species was first described by Linnaeus in his Systema naturae in 1758 under its current scientific name.[2]

"Ouzel" (or "ousel") is an old name for Common Blackbird from Old English osle.[3] "Ouzel" may also be applied to a group of superficially similar but unrelated birds, the dippers, the European representative of which is sometimes known as the Water Ouzel.

As with the English name, the scientific name also refers to the male's obvious white neck crescent, being derived from the Latin words turdus, "thrush", and torque, "torc" (neck ring).

References

1. ^ BirdLife International (2004). Turdus torquatus. 2006. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. www.iucnredlist.org. Retrieved on 12 May 2006. Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern
2. ^ (Latin) Linnaeus, C (1758). Systema naturae per regna tria naturae, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis. Tomus I. Editio decima, reformata.. Holmiae. (Laurentii Salvii).. pp. 169. "T. nigricans, torque albo, rostro fiavescente."
3. ^ Bird name list for The Ornithology of Anglo-Saxon England article in Ða Engliscan Gesiðas Handboc

Bibliography

* Clement and Hathaway, Thrushes ISBN 0-7136-3940-7