# Karoo thrush

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The **Karoo thrush** (***Turdus smithi***), also known as **Smith's thrush**, is a member of the thrush family in [Africa](/source/Africa). It has traditionally been considered a [subspecies](/source/Subspecies) of the [olive thrush](/source/Olive_thrush) (with which it is known to [hybridize](/source/Hybrid_(biology))), but is increasingly treated as a separate [species](/source/Species). The [specific name](/source/Specific_name_(zoology)) honours the [Scottish](/source/Scottish_people) [military surgeon](/source/Military_surgeon) and [zoologist](/source/Zoologist) Sir [Andrew Smith](/source/Andrew_Smith_(zoologist)).[1]

## Description

This medium-sized bird has a length of about 24 cm. It has a wing length between 117 and 131 mm, a culmen length between 20 and 24 mm and a tarsus length between 30.0 and 34.5 mm. It can reach a mass of at least 86 g. It differs from the olive thrush by its longer, entirely yellow bill, its longer wings, and its greyer flanks.

## Range

It occurs in [South Africa](/source/South_Africa), where it is present in [Little Namaqualand](/source/Namaqualand), the [Karoo](/source/Karoo) and [Northern Cape](/source/Northern_Cape), [Free State](/source/Free_State_(South_African_province)), [Gauteng](/source/Gauteng), [Limpopo](/source/Limpopo), [Mpumalanga](/source/Mpumalanga) and parts of the [North West Province](/source/North_West_Province_(South_Africa)).

## References

1. James A. Jobling (2010). [*The Helm dictionary of scientific bird names from aalge to zusii*](https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/304157#page/359/mode/1up). Christopher Helm, London. p. 358. ISBN 978-1-4081-2501-4.

## External links

- Bo T Bonnevie, *The biology of suburban Olive Thrushes* (Turdus olivaceus olivaceus) *in the Eastern Cape, South Africa* (2005). M.Sc. thesis, Rhodes University, South Africa
- [Olive/Karoo Thrush identification](http://www.birdinfo.co.za/landbirds/21_olive_karoo_thrush%20id.htm)
- [Birds of Southern Africa - Karoo Thrush](http://www.birdsinsa.com/birds/turdussmithi.htm)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Karoo thrush](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karoo_thrush) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karoo_thrush?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.