Turdidae
鸫科
dōng kē

General

Information is based on dictionaries and other sources. Pinyin readings reflect standard Mandarin usage; for some dialect alternative names it may be of little practical use, especially for South China. Many Korean glosses are highly tentative. Comments and corrections welcome.

The official modern Chinese name for the thrushes is 鸫 dōng. The problem is that it doesn't seem to enjoy wide popular currency. The character is not even listed in A Chinese-English Dictionary, a large standard bilingual dictionary. Obunsha's Kanwa Chu Jiten claims that the use of the character for 'thrush' is Japanese in origin. Traditionally, in Chinese 鶇 was used in a compound word referring to the Wryneck (woodpecker). If this is the case, then 鸫 dōng in the meaning 'thrush' is actually a borrowing from Japanese.

So what the thrushes were called before the 'official' names came along? Attempts to find earlier or alternative Chinese expressions for the thrushes in the Cihai are not very revealing. For 鸫 dōng, the Cihai simply states that it refers to the Turdinae. There are no references to or citations from ancient sources. 鸫 is a word without a history.

The Cihai does, however, give a cross-reference to 乌鸫 wū-dōng 'black thrush' (i.e., Blackbird), a bird commonly found in China. Under 乌鸫 wū-dōng we find the alternative expression 乌 wū-chūn. The character chūn doesn't appear anywhere else in the Cihai, making it impossible to clarify its meaning and usage. (The Kangxi Dictionary glosses it only as 'a kind of bird'.)

The Ciha also mentions that the 乌鸫 wū-dōng used to be known as the 百舌 bǎi-shé 'hundred tongues' because of its versatile song. Curiously, in Japanese the characters 百舌 are used to write the name of the shrikes. It was also known as the 乌鹡 wū-jí 'dark fantail'. The Dusky Thrush is eaten on account of its tasty flavour and is also known as the 穿草鸡 chuān-cǎo-jī ('come through the grass fowl/chicken') or 窜儿鸡 cuànr-jī.

The names of the thrushes have been regularised in Chinese. All end in the character 鸫 dōng.

Species names

ABOUT THIS TABLE (Hover cursor to see)

SCIENTIFIC & ENGLISH		CHINESE			EAST		SOUTH	NORTH
Myophonus
Latin	English	Chinese	Chinese (Taiwan)	Other Ch	Japanese	Korean	Vietnamese	Mongolian
Myophonus caeruleus Myiophoneus caeruleus	Blue whistling thrush Blue whistling-thrush Himalayan whistling thrush Violet whistling thrush	紫啸鸫 (紫嘯鶇) zǐ xiào-dōng 'purple whistling thrush'	(白斑紫啸鸫) 白斑紫嘯鶇 bái-bān zǐ xiào-dōng 'white-striped purple whistling thrush'	鸣鸡 (鳴雞) míng-jī 'calling fowl/chicken' 山鸣鸡 (山鳴雞) shān míng-jī 'mountain calling fowl/chicken' 鸟精 (鳥精) niǎo jīng 'bird spirit'	オオルリチョウ (大瑠璃鳥 or 大琉璃鳥) ō ruri-chō 'large lapis lazuli bird'		Chim Hoét xanh 'blue/green thrush (bird)'
Zoothera
Latin	English	Chinese	Chinese (Taiwan)	Other Ch	Japanese	Korean	Vietnamese	Mongolian
Zoothera citrina	Orange-headed thrush Orange-headed ground thrush Orange ground thrush	橙头地鸫 (橙頭地鶇) chéng-tóu dì-dōng 'orange-headed ground-thrush'			オレンジジツグミ (オレンジ地鶇) orenji ji-tsugumi 'orange ground-thrush'	귤빛지빠귀 gyulbicchippagwi 'tangerine thrush'	Chim Hoét vàng 'yellow thrush (bird)'
Zoothera sibirica Turdus sibiricus	Siberian thrush Siberian ground thrush	白眉地鸫 (白眉地鶇) bái-méi dì-dōng 'white-eyebrowed ground-thrush'	(白眉地鸫) 白眉地鶇 bái-méi dì-dōng 'white-eyebrowed ground-thrush'		マミジロ (眉白) mami-jiro 'white-eyebrow'	흰눈썹지빠귀 huin-nunsseop-jippagwi 'white-eyebrowed thrush'	Chim Hoét Xibêri 'Siberian thrush (bird)'	Шивэр хөөндэй shiver khööndei 'Siberian thrush' Taxonomy
Zoothera mollissima	Plain-backed thrush Plain-backed mountain thrush	光背地鸫 (光背地鶇) guāng-bèi dì-dōng 'plain-backed ground-thrush'			アカトラツグミ (赤虎鶇) aka tora tsugumi 'red tiger thrush'		Chim Sáo đất nâu hung 'reddishbrown ground starling (bird)'
Zoothera dixoni	Long-tailed thrush Long-tailed mountain thrush	长尾地鸫 (長尾地鶇) cháng-wěi dì-dōng 'long-tailed ground-thrush'			オナガトラツグミ (尾長虎鶇) o-naga tora tsugumi 'long-tailed tiger thrush'		Chim Sáo đất Dixon 'Dixon's ground starling (bird)'
Zoothera aurea	White's Thrush or White's thrush Golden mountain thrush White's ground thrush	虎斑地鸫 (虎斑地鶇) hǔ-bān dì-dōng 'tiger-striped ground-thrush' Note	(白氏地鸫) 白氏地鶇 bái-shì dì-dōng 'Mr White's ground-thrush'	顿鸡 (頓雞) dùn-jī 'pausing fowl/chicken' (?) meaning unclear 大花麦鴓 (大花麥鴓) dà-huā mài miè 'large-flower grain mie' See also Turdus pallidus 虎鸫 (虎鶇) hǔ-dōng 'tiger thrush' (former Taiwan official name for Zoothera dauma and Zoothera aurea)	トラツグミ (虎鶇) tora tsugumi 'tiger thrush'	호랑지빠귀 horang-jippagwi 'tiger-and-wolf thrush'	Chim Sáo đất 'ground starling (bird)' Note
Latin	English	Chinese	Chinese (Taiwan)	Other Ch	Japanese	Korean	Vietnamese	Mongolian
Zoothera dauma Turdus dauma	Scaly thrush or White's thrush	虎斑地鸫 (虎斑地鶇) hǔ-bān dì-dōng 'tiger-striped ground-thrush' Note	(虎斑地鸫) 虎斑地鶇 hǔ-bān dì-dōng 'tiger-striped ground-thrush'	虎鸫 (虎鶇) hǔ-dōng 'tiger thrush' (former Taiwan official name for Zoothera dauma and Zoothera aurea)	コトラツグミ (小虎鶇) ko tora tsugumi 'small tiger thrush' Note		Chim Sáo đất 'ground starling (bird)'	Алаг хөөндий alag khööndii 'motley thrush (variant)'
Zoothera marginata	Dark-sided thrush Lesser long-billed thrush Long-billed thrush	长嘴地鸫 (長嘴地鶇) cháng-zuǐ dì-dōng 'long-billed ground-thrush'			コオオハシツグミ (小大嘴鶇) ko ō-hashi tsugumi 'small large-billed thrush'		Chim Sáo đất nâu 'brown ground starling (bird)'
Turdus
Latin	English	Chinese	Chinese (Taiwan)	Other Ch	Japanese	Korean	Vietnamese	Mongolian
Turdus hortulorum	Grey-backed thrush	灰背鸫 (灰背鶇) huī-bèi dōng 'grey-backed thrush'	(灰背鸫) 灰背鶇 huī-bèi dōng 'grey-backed thrush'		カラアカハラ (唐赤腹) kara aka-hara 'Chinese red belly'	되지빠귀 doe-jippagwi 'doe thrush'	Chim Hoét lưng đen 'black-backed thrush (bird)' (13)
Turdus dissimilis	Black-breasted thrush	黑胸鸫 (黑胸鶇) hēi-xiōng dōng 'black-breasted thrush'			ムナグロアカハラ (胸黒赤腹) muna-guro aka-hara 'black-breasted red belly'		Chim Hoét ngực đen 'black-breasted thrush (bird)'
Turdus cardis	Japanese thrush Japanese grey thrush Grey thrush	乌灰鸫 (烏灰鶇) wū-huī dōng 'black grey thrush'	(乌灰鸫) 烏灰鶇 wū-huī dōng 'black grey thrush' Taiwan former official: (灰鸫) 灰鶇 huī dōng 'grey thrush'		クロツグミ (黒鶇) kuro-tsugumi 'black thrush'	검은지빠귀 geomeun-jippagwi 'black thrush'	Chim Hoét bụng trắng 'white-bellied thrush (bird)'
Turdus albocinctus	White-collared blackbird	白颈鸫 (白頸鶇) bái-jǐng dōng 'white-collared thrush'			シロエリツグミ (白襟鶇) shiro-eri tsugumi 'white-collared thrush'
Turdus boulboul	Grey-winged blackbird	灰翅鸫 (灰翅鶇) huī-chì dōng 'grey-winged thrush'			ハイバネツグミ (灰羽鶇) hai-bane tsugumi 'grey-winged thrush'		Chim Hoét đen cánh trắng 'white-winged black thrush'
Latin	English	Chinese	Chinese (Taiwan)	Other Ch	Japanese	Korean	Vietnamese	Mongolian
Turdus merula	Eurasian blackbird or Common blackbird Blackbird Chinese Blackbird	乌鸫 (烏鶇) wū-dōng 'black thrush'	(黑鸫) 黑鶇 hēi-dōng 'black thrush'	百舌 (百舌) bǎi-shé 'hundred tongues' (see Laniidae) 反舌 (反舌) fǎn-shé 'counter tongue' (bird 'talks back') 乌 (烏） wū-chūn 'dark chun' 乌鸟 (烏鳥) wū-niǎo 'dark bird' 中国黑鸫 (中國黑鶇) zhōngguó hēi-dōng 'Chinese black thrush' 乌鸪 (烏鴣) wū-gū 'dark gu'	クロウタドリ (黒歌鳥) kuro uta-dori 'black song-bird'	대륙검은지빠귀 daeryuk-geomeun-jippagwi 'continental black thrush'	Chim Hoét đen 'black thrush (bird)'	Хар хөөндэй khar khööndei 'black thrush'
Turdus rubrocanus	Chestnut thrush Grey-headed thrush	灰头鸫 (灰頭鶇) huī-tóu dōng 'grey-headed thrush'			クリイロツグミ (栗色鶇) kuri-iro tsugumi 'chestnut-coloured thrush'		Chim Hoét hung 'reddish thrush (bird)'
Turdus kessleri	Kessler's thrush or White-backed thrush	棕背鸫 (棕背鶇) zōng-bèi dōng 'reddishbrown-backed thrush' (2, 4) 棕背黑头鸫 (棕背黑頭鶇) zōng-bèi hēi-tóu dōng 'reddishbrown-backed black-headed thrush' (1, 3, 5)			チャイロツグミ (茶色鶇) cha-iro tsugumi 'brown thrush'
Turdus feae	Grey-sided thrush Fea's thrush	褐头鸫 (褐頭鶇) hè-tóu dōng 'brown-headed thrush'			カキイロツグミ (柿色鶇) kaki-iro tsugumi 'persimmon-coloured thrush'
Turdus obscurus	Eyebrowed thrush Eye-browed thrush	白眉鸫 (白眉鶇) bái-méi dōng 'white-eyebrowed thrush'	(白眉鸫) 白眉鶇 bái-méi dōng 'white-eyebrowed thrush'	眉鸫 (眉鶇) méi dōng 'eyebrowed thrush' (7)	マミチャジナイ (眉茶) mami cha-jinai 'eyebrowed brown shinai'	흰눈썹붉은배지빠귀 huin-nunsseop-bulgeun-bae-jippagwi 'white-eyebrowed red-bellied thrush'	Chim Hoét mày trắng 'white-eyebrowed thrush (bird)'	Халиун хөөндэй khaliuŋ khööndei 'bay thrush'
Latin	English	Chinese	Chinese (Taiwan)	Other Ch	Japanese	Korean	Vietnamese	Mongolian
Turdus pallidus	Pale thrush	白腹鸫 (白腹鶇) bái-fù dōng 'white-bellied thrush'	(白腹鸫) 白腹鶇 bái-fù dōng 'white-bellied thrush'	白眉鸫 (白眉鶇) bái-méi dōng 'white-eyebrowed thrush' 白眉白腹鸫 (白眉白腹鶇) bái-méi bái-fù dōng 'white-eyebrowed white-bellied thrush' 灰头鸫 (灰頭鶇) huī-tóu dōng 'grey-headed thrush' 灰头穿草鸡 (灰頭穿草雞) huī-tóu chuān-cǎo-jī 'grey-headed through-grass fowl/chicken' (See T. naumanni below) 银锭 (銀錠) yín-dìng 'silver ingot' 白眉灰麦鴓 (白眉灰麥鴓) bái-méi huī mài miè 'white-eyebrowed grey grain mie' (鴓 = warbler, see Phylloscopus coronatus, Anthus hodgsoni, and Zoothera aurea)	シロハラ (白腹) shiro-hara 'white belly'	흰배지빠귀 huin-bae-jippagwi 'white-bellied thrush'	Hoét đầu xám 'grey-headed thrush (bird)' (13)	Бүгээн хөөндэй bügeeŋ khööndei 'light grey thrush'
Turdus chrysolaus	Brown-headed thrush Red-billed thrush Rufous-breasted thrush Brown thrush	赤胸鸫 (赤胸鶇) chì-xiōng dōng 'red-breasted thrush'	(赤腹鸫) 赤腹鶇 chì-fù dōng 'red-bellied thrush'	红腹鸫 (紅腹鶇) hóng-fù dōng 'red-bellied thrush' (7)	アカハラ (赤腹) aka-hara 'red belly'	붉은배지빠귀 bulgeun-bae-jippagwi 'red-bellied thrush'	Hoét nâu 'brown thrush (bird)' (13)
Turdus atrogularis	Black-throated Thrush	黑喉鸫 (黑喉鶇) hēi-hóu dōng 'black-throated thrush' (2)			ノドグロツグミ (喉黒鶇) nodo-guro tsugumi 'black-throated thrush' Note	검은목지빠귀 geomeun-mok-jippagwi 'black-throated thrush'		Харгүеэ хөөндэй khar-güee khööndei 'black-throat thrush' Former official: Хар гүеэт хөөндэй khar güeet khööndei 'black-throated thrush'
Turdus ruficollis	Red-throated thrush Dark-throated thrush Red-necked thrush Black-throated thrush	赤颈鸫 (赤頸鶇) chì-jǐng dōng 'red-collared thrush'	(赤颈鸫) 赤頸鶇 chì-jǐng dōng 'red-collared thrush'		ノドグロツグミ (喉黒鶇) nodo-guro tsugumi 'black-throated thrush'	붉은목지빠귀 bulgeun-mok-jippagwi 'red-throated thrush'		Улаангүеэ хөөндэй ulaaŋ-güee khööndei 'red-throat thrush' Former official: Улаан гүеэт хөөндэй ulaaŋ güeet khööndei 'red-throated thrush'
Turdus naumanni	Naumann's thrush	红尾鸫 (紅尾鶇) hóng-wěi dōng 'red-tailed thrush' (2)	(红尾鸫) 紅尾鶇 hóng-wěi dōng 'red-tailed thrush'		ハチジョウツグミ (八丈鶇) hachi-jō tsugumi 'Hachijo thrush' (Hachijo = island name) (Wikipedia)	노랑지빠귀 norang-jippagwi 'yellow thrush'		Науманны хөөндэй naumanni khööndei 'Naumann thrush'
Latin	English	Chinese	Chinese (Taiwan)	Other Ch	Japanese	Korean	Vietnamese	Mongolian
Turdus eunomus Note	Dusky thrush	斑鸫 (斑鶇) bān-dōng 'striped thrush' Note	(斑点鸫) 斑點鶇 bān-diǎn dōng 'stripe-dotted thrush'	穿草鸡 (穿草雞) chuān-cǎo-jī 'pass through grass fowl/chicken' 窜儿鸡 (竄兒雞) cuànr-jī 'hiding / slinking away fowl' (meaning unclear)	ツグミ (鶇) tsugumi 'thrush'	개똥지빠귀 gaettong-jippagwi 'dog-shit? thrush'	Chim Hoét lưng hung 'reddish backed thrush (bird)' Note	Хүрэн хөөндэй khüreŋ khööndei 'darkbrown thrush'
Turdus pilaris	Fieldfare	田鸫 (田鶇) tián dōng 'paddy thrush'			ノハラツグミ (野原鶇) no-hara tsugumi 'field thrush'			Дуулгат хөөндэй duulagt khööndei 'helmeted thrush'
Turdus iliacus	Redwing	白眉歌鸫 (白眉歌鶇) bái-méi gē-dōng 'white-eyebrowed song thrush'			ワキアカツグミ (脇赤鶇) waki-aka tsugumi 'red-sided thrush'			Цагаанхөмсөг хөөндэй tsagaaŋ-khömsög khööndei 'white-eyebrowed thrush' Former official: Цагаан хөмсөгт хөөндэй tsagaaŋ khömsögt khööndei 'white-eyebrowed thrush'
Turdus philomelos	Song thrush European song thrush	欧歌鸫 (歐歌鶇) ōu gē-dōng 'European song thrush'		歌鸫 (歌鶇) gē-dōng 'song thrush'	ウタツグミ (歌鶇) uta-tsugumi 'song thrush'			Дууч хөөндэй duuch khööndei 'song thrush'
Turdus mupinensis	Chinese thrush Mongolian song thrush Eastern song thrush Verreaux's song thrush	宝兴歌鸫 (寶興歌鶇) bǎoxìng gē-dōng 'Baoxing song thrush' (Baoxing is place name in Sichuan)			チベットウタツグミ (チベット歌鶇) chibetto uta tsugumi 'Tibetan song thrush'	중국지빠귀 jungguk-jippagwi 'Chinese thrush'	Chim Hoét Trung Quốc 'Chinese thrush (bird)'
Latin	English	Chinese	Chinese (Taiwan)	Other Ch	Japanese	Korean	Vietnamese	Mongolian
Turdus viscivorus	Mistle thrush Mistletoe thrush	槲鸫 (槲鶇) hú-dōng 'mistletoe thrush'			ヤドリギツグミ (宿木鶇) yadori-gi tsugumi 'mistletoe thrush'			Бужмаг хөөндэй bujmag khööndei 'bujmag thrush'
Cochoa
Latin	English	Chinese	Chinese (Taiwan)	Other Ch	Japanese	Korean	Vietnamese	Mongolian
Cochoa purpurea	Purple cochoa	紫宽嘴鸫 (紫寬嘴鶇) zǐ kuān-zuǐ-dōng 'purple broad-billed thrush'			ムラサキミヤマツグミ (紫深山鶇) murasaki miyama tsugumi 'purple deep-mountain thrush'		Chim Cô cô đầu xám 'grey-headed cochoa (bird)'
Cochoa viridis	Green cochoa	绿宽嘴鸫 (綠寬嘴鶇) lǜ kuān-zuǐ-dōng 'green broad-billed thrush'			ミドリミヤマツグミ (緑深山鶇) midori miyama tsugumi 'green deep-mountain thrush'		Chim Cô cô đầu xanh 'blue/green-headed cochoa (bird)'
Brachypteryx
Latin	English	Chinese	Chinese (Taiwan)	Other Ch	Japanese	Korean	Vietnamese	Mongolian
Brachypteryx stellata	Gould's shortwing Chestnut shortwing	栗背短翅鸫 (栗背短翅鶇) lì-bèi duǎn-chì-dōng 'chestnut-backed short-winged thrush'			シロボシコバネヒタキ (白星小羽鶲) shiro-boshi ko-bane hitaki 'white-starred small-winged flycatcher'		Chim Hoét đuôi cụt bụng vằn 'stripe-bellied short-tailed thrush (bird)'
Brachypteryx hyperythra	Rusty-bellied shortwing	锈腹短翅鸫 (銹腹短翅鶇) xiù-fù duǎn-chì-dōng 'rust-bellied short-winged thrush'			ムネアカコバネヒタキ (胸赤小羽鶲) mune-aka ko-bane hitaki 'red-breasted small-winged flycatcher'
Brachypteryx leucophrys	Lesser shortwing	白喉短翅鸫 (白喉短翅鶇) bái-hóu duǎn-chì-dōng 'white-throated short-winged thrush'			ヒメコバネヒタキ (姫小羽鶲) hime ko-bane hitaki 'princess small-winged flycatcher'		Chim Hoét đuôi cụt mày trắng 'white-eyebrowed short-tailed thrush (bird)'
Brachypteryx montana	White-browed shortwing Blue shortwing	蓝短翅鸫 (藍短翅鶇) lán duǎn-chì-dōng 'blue short-winged thrush'	(小翼鸫) 小翼鶇 xiǎo-yì-dōng 'small-winged thrush'	白眉短髈 (白眉短髈) bái-méi duǎn-pǎng 'white-eyebrowed short-wing'	コバネヒタキ (小羽鶲) ko-bane hitaki 'small-winged flycatcher'		Chim Hoét đuôi cụt xanh 'blue/green short-tailed thrush (bird)'

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