Avian Lifer March 2026 - White-throated Rock Thrush Male

 10 years ago I got the female in Bukit Tinggi. This time we took the effort to travel to Perlis (Husaini's port) to shoot this rarity male White-throated Rock Thrush .  The bird is probably on its way back north. It may be leaving soon to mate and nest in May-July. So guys do make the effort to see it. This is my lifer male nevertheless and it was in breeding plummage !  

Adult male white-throated rock thrushes have white patches on their chins and throats. However, the rest of their undersides are a chestnut-orange color. Adult females have brown or olive-brown upper parts and "boldly scalloped" lower parts. Young males have gray or golden-brown feathers and orange undersides. The birds are also cobalt blue and black in places. The bird's song has been described as "melancholy, flute-like, drawn-out rising whistles" (Wiki)

The white-throated rock thrush has a very sizable range, 1,710,000 square kilometers. It is native and breeds in Manchuria, the Russian Far East and neighboring areas; it winters in Indochina and southern China. The birds are occasionally seen in Japan. They have also been observed in Hong Kong and  Singapore. The bird's population is unknown, but is not increasing or declining. (Wiki)

Husaini Port .You have to pay a RM100 per pax levy to shoot the bird and I would say it is worth it. The bird will come out to feed several time until 11 am. You have to bring you own hide as you be shooting in the open at a rocky outcrop. You should position your hide to get a side profile rather than a frontal view. 

He has another shaded port to shoot a pair of Banded Pitta, Puff-throated babbler and Ruddy Kingfisher. He charge another RM50 pax if you want to shoot them.  We hope he will be able to lure a Giant Pitta to his port in the future....

If you place hide wrongly you will get only frontal view like this.