Birds
Tristan Thrush
Nesocichla eremita · also called starchy
Occasionally preying on the eggs and chicks of other seabirds, a Tristan thrush shows a predatory streak unusual for its family, found nowhere else on Earth but the remote Tristan da Cunha island group.
Overview
The Tristan thrush, Nesocichla eremita, is a Near Threatened bird native to forest, coastal, and grassland habitat across the Tristan da Cunha island group. Its unusually predatory diet for a thrush, its status as the sole thrush species native to these islands, and its distinct populations across different islands make it one of the more ecologically unusual songbirds found anywhere in the South Atlantic.
A thrush that behaves like a predator
Where most thrush species stick to fruit, insects, and worms, the Tristan thrush has taken on a more predatory role on its isolated home islands, supplementing its diet with the eggs and chicks of seabirds that evolved without this particular threat.
Status
Near Threatened, with populations restricted to the Tristan da Cunha island group and considered vulnerable to introduced predators and habitat disturbance despite currently stable numbers.
Tristan Thrush: common questions
Why is the Tristan thrush's diet unusual?
This species occasionally preys on the eggs and chicks of other seabirds, an unusually predatory habit rarely seen among thrush species elsewhere in the world.
Where is the Tristan thrush found?
This species is found only across the remote Tristan da Cunha island group, the sole thrush species native to these islands in the South Atlantic.
Why is it called the starchy?
This species is known locally by the name starchy among residents of the Tristan da Cunha islands, a name used widely alongside its more formal common name.
Are Tristan thrush populations the same across all the islands?
No, this species has developed distinct populations across the different islands of the Tristan da Cunha group, each shaped by its own isolated environment.