Groundscraper Thrush
Psophocichla litsitsirupa
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Cordats)
- ClassAves (Aus)
- OrderPasseriformes
- FamilyTurdidae (Túrdids)
- GenusPsophocichla
- SpeciesPsophocichla litsitsirupa (Groundscraper Thrush)
The groundscraper thrush (Turdus litsitsirupa) is a passerine bird of southern and eastern Africa belonging to the thrush family, Turdidae. It was previously considered the only member of the genus Psophocichla, but phylogenetic analysis supports it belonging in the genus Turdus, where it forms a sister group to the remaining Turdus species. It is 22–24 centimetres (8.7–9.4 in) long with an erect posture, short tail, heavy bill and fairly long legs. The upperparts are plain grey-brown with a chestnut wing-panel. The underparts are white with black spots and the face is white with bold black markings. The underwing has a black and white pattern which is visible during the undulating flight. Wikipedia →
5–10% of wildlife watchers report a Groundscraper Thrush sighting in Hwange National Park, based on 21 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
Closest Relatives at Hwange National Park
Kurrichane Thrush
Turdus libonyana
Fork-tailed Drongo
Dicrurus adsimilis
White-browed Sparrow-Weaver
Plocepasser mahali
Magpie Shrike
Urolestes melanoleucus
Arrow-marked Babbler
Turdoides jardineii
Southern White-crowned Shrike
Eurocephalus anguitimens
Common Bulbul
Pycnonotus barbatus
Golden-breasted Bunting
Emberiza flaviventris
Meves's Glossy-starling
Lamprotornis mevesii
Red-billed Oxpecker
Buphagus erythrorhynchus
Red-billed Buffalo-Weaver
Bubalornis niger
Southern Gray-headed Sparrow
Passer diffusus
📅 Monthly Probability
☀️ When They're Spotted
Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)
Global Distribution
Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.
where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is) · parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bale Mountains National Park | 🇪🇹 Ethiopia | |
| 2 | Waterberg Plateau Park | 🇳🇦 Namibia | |
| 3 | Pilanesberg National Park | 🇿🇦 South Africa | |
| 4 | Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park | 🇿🇦 South Africa | |
| 5 | Etosha National Park | 🇳🇦 Namibia | |
| 6 | Kruger National Park | 🇿🇦 South Africa | |
| 7 | Chobe National Park | 🇧🇼 Botswana | |
| 8 | Hwange National Park | 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe | |
| 9 | Namib-Naukluft National Park | 🇳🇦 Namibia | |
| 10 | Moremi Game Reserve | 🇧🇼 Botswana | |
| 11 | Kafue National Park | 🇿🇲 Zambia | |
| 12 | Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park | 🇿🇦 South Africa | |
| 13 | Garden Route National Park | 🇿🇦 South Africa | |
| 14 | Addo Elephant National Park | 🇿🇦 South Africa | |
| 15 | Gonarezhou National Park | 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe | |
| 16 | Ruaha National Park | 🇹🇿 Tanzania | |
| 17 | South Luangwa National Park | 🇿🇲 Zambia | |
| 18 | iSimangaliso Wetland Park | 🇿🇦 South Africa | |
| 19 | Mana Pools National Park | 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Groundscraper Thrush in Hwange National Park?
About 5% of wildlife watchers report a Groundscraper Thrush sighting in Hwange National Park, based on 21 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Groundscraper Thrush in Hwange National Park?
September has the highest sighting rate for Groundscraper Thrush in Hwange National Park in our monthly data.