Dusky Thrush
Turdus eunomus Temminck, 1831 (1, 0)
Photo © Rob Stonehouse
STATUS
Eurasia. Monotypic.
OVERVIEW
Only the one record for this period, as per BOU (1971).
RECORD
1). 1905 Nottinghamshire Gunthorpe, shot, 13th October.
(J. Whitaker, Zoologist 1905: 466; J. Whitaker, Field 13th Oct., 1905: 989; W. R. Ogilvie-Grant, Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 16: 45; H. Saunders, British Birds 1: 5; Whitaker, 1907; BOU, 1915).
History J. Whitaker of Rainworth Lodge, Notts. (1905) in The Zoologist, 4th series, Vol. IX. p. 466, says: 'A specimen of the Dusky Thrush was shot at Gunthorpe, in this county, by a nursery gardener named Mills. He heard a bird in a willow tree calling a loud "chack, chack", something like a Fieldfare Turdus pilaris, but more shrill. When the bird flew out he at once saw that it was not a Fieldfare, as it flew like a Jay Garrulus glandarius. He fired, and killed it with his second barrel. When he picked it up he knew it was a strange bird, and took it to Bore [Rose], taxidermist, of Notts., where I saw it. There is no doubt that it is a Dusky Thrush, and is in very perfect plumage, and not only the first Notts. specimen, but a new one to the British list. The bird was shot on October 13th last, and was a male.'
J. Whitaker (1905) in The Field of 13th Oct., Vol. CVI. p. 989, says "On Oct. 13 a market Gardener named Mills was walking on a small dyke side near Gunthorpe, in Nottinghamshire, when he saw a bird about the size of a Fieldfare sitting in a willow tree. Its note was new to him, and like that of the Fieldfare, but sharper and louder. It flew more like a Jay, flapping its wings two or three times, then skimming along. He fired at it and missed, but killed it with his second barrel. On picking it up he saw it was a bird he did not know, and took it to Rose, a bird-stuffer in Nottingham, who thought it was a variety of the Fieldfare. Mr. Musters, of Annesley Park, and I have since seen it, and we have no doubt it is the Dusky Thrush (Turdus dubius), a species new to Nottinghamshire, and I think also the British Islands.'
W. R. Ogilvie-Grant, Editor (1906) in the Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club, Vol. XVI. p. 45, at the 120th Meeting of the Club held on 17th January 1906 at the Restaurant Frascati, London, says: 'Mr. P. C. Musters exhibited a well-mounted example of the Dusky Thrush (Turdus fuscatus = T. dubius), which had been shot by a market gardener named Mills near Gunthorpe, in Nottinghamshire, on October 13th, 1905.
The bird had been taken to Rose, a bird-stuffer in Nottingham, who believed it to be a variety of the Fieldfare, but it was subsequently examined and recognised by Mr. Musters and Mr. J. Whitaker. This is the first known instance of the occurrence of this thrush in the British Island.'
Howard Saunders (1907) in British Birds, Vol. I. p. 5, under 'Additions to the List of British Birds since 1899', says: 'The name Turdus fuscatus, Pallas, has often been applied to this species, but was published much later than the above date.
A mounted example of this Thrush, belonging to Mr. P. C. Musters, and exhibited by him at a meeting of the British Ornithologists' Club on January 17th, 1906, was stated to have been shot near Gunthorpe, Notts., on October 13th, 1905; and a Nottingham birdstuffer to whom it was sent supposed it to be a variety of the Fieldfare, but its specific distinctness was recognised by Mr. J. Whitaker of Rainworth and by Mr. Musters.'
Whitaker (1907: 17-18) says: 'It is with great pleasure I include this Eastern Thrush in my Notts. list, for not only is it the first time it has occurred in this county, but in Great Britain.
The circumstances are as follows: On October 13th, 1905, a market gardener named Mills was walking on a dyke side near his gardens at Gunthorpe when he saw a bird about the size of a Fieldfare sitting in a willow tree. Its note was new to him, something like a Fieldfare's but sharper and louder; its flight was rather like a Jay flapping its wings two or three times then skimming along. He fired at it and missed but brought it down with his second barrel. On picking it up he saw it was a bird he did not know so took it to Rose, the Nottingham stuffer, who thought it was a slight variety of the Fieldfare.
I was shown the bird a few days after and at once saw it was no variety but a distinct species, and on looking in Dresser's grand work on European Birds I quickly found what it was and wrote to the Field about it. Mr. Musters of Annesley Park confirmed my opinion, and it is now in his fine collection.'
Admitted nationally in their second List of British Birds as the first for Britain (BOU 1915).
Comment This specimen was in the Sale Catalogue of Major & Mrs. R. P. Chaworth-Musters, of Annesley Park, Nottinghamshire, held by Henry Spencer & Sons in conjunction with Smith-Wooley & Co., on 20th-22nd March 1973 as Lot 561.
NOT PROVEN
0). 1915 Sussex Hollington, St Leonards-on-Sea, female, shot, 25th January; female, shot, 7th February; male, shot, 20th February; female, shot, 22nd February; male, shot, 3rd March, now at Birmingham Museums and Art Gallery (Acc. No. 1962Z10.543). Crowhurst, female, shot, 3rd March, now at Birmingham Museums and Art Gallery (Acc. No. 1962Z10.542).
(H. W. Ford-Lindsay, British Birds 8: 267; W. Ruskin Butterfield, Hastings & East Sussex Naturalist 2: 198; Walpole-Bond, 1938; Watson, 2010).
[E. M. Nicholson & I. J. Ferguson-Lees, British Birds 55: 299-384 HR].
History H. W. Ford-Lindsay (1915) in British Birds, Vol. VIII. p. 267, says: 'Towards the end of January, 1915, I heard that some curious Thrushes were visiting certain clumps of hawthorn for the purpose of feeding on the berries. They were described as being a cross between a Redwing and a Fieldfare. It was not long before I had the opportunity of examining one in the flesh, when I found it to be the Dusky Thrush (Turdus fuscatus).
Altogether I have examined six of these birds in the flesh, five of which were shot at the same spot. The dates and sex are as follows: - January 25th, female, Hollington; February 7th, female, Hollington; February 20th, male, Hollington; February 22nd, female, Hollington; March 3rd, male, Hollington; March 3rd, female, Crowhurst.'
[The Dusky Thrush breeds in Siberia and winters in China and north-west India, only occasionally appears in Europe, and has only once before been recorded in the British Isles. - Eds.]
Accepted locally (Walpole-Bond 1938 (2): 71).
Watson (2010) in detailing the J. L. Auden collection in the Birmingham Museum lists a male specimen that was killed by G. Bristow at Morleys Farm, St Leonards, Sussex, on 3rd March 1915, and a female specimen that was shot by a local baker at Crowhurst, Sussex, on the same day, adding that it was bought at the sale of J. B. Nichols collection, who had bought both from G. Bristow on 11th March 1915.
Comment Hastings rarities. Not acceptable.
0). 1937 Fair Isle No locality, seen, 7th October.
(Witherby et al., 1940-52).
[Witherby et al., 1940-52].
History Witherby (1952 (2): 126, 7th ed.) says: 'Scotland. - Bird seen by G. Stout, Fair Is. Oct. 7, 1937, probably this species.'
Comment Not specifically identified. Lacks supporting details. Not acceptable.
0). 1941 Devon Near Chagford, seen, 29th December.
(F. C. Butters, E. W. Hendy, R. W. Howell & H. G. Hurrell, Devon Bird-Watching and Preservation Society Report 1941: 39-40; Eds., British Birds 36: 120).
[Witherby et al., 1940-52; BOU, 1971].
History F. C. Butters, E. W. Hendy, R. W. Howell & H. G. Hurrell (1941) in the Devon Bird-Watching and Preservation Society Report, Vol. XIV. pp. 39-40, say: 'December 29th (?30th). Watching Redwings and Fieldfares with glasses at close range near Chagford I noticed one bird which was obviously bigger than the Redwings.
I made the accompanying sketch of it at the time. The head was dark brown, with a broad white eyestripe; the cheeks buffish white; the back and tail dark brown; there was a chestnut patch on the wings, not on the flanks. The legs were brown. This description suggests that the bird was a Dusky Thrush, but as this species has been recorded only twice in England I feel diffident about recording it. I am certain that the bird was neither Redwing nor Fieldfare. (R.L.W.)
[The chestnut patch on the wings, not on the flanks, seems to make the identification of the bird as a Dusky Thrush conclusive. - Editors.]
In an Editorial (1942) in British Birds, Vol. XXXVI. p. 120, in a Review of the Devon Bird-watching and Preservation Society, for 1941, they say: 'A Thrush, which was thought to have been a Dusky Thrush (Turdus eunomus), was watched at Chagford on December 29th. The description of the bird is assisted by sketches.'
Not admitted nationally (BOU 1971).
