White's thrush was sighted in Israel for the first time on Thursday morning at Kibbutz Kfar Hanassi by Ilan Ginat, a local resident and amateur birdwatcher.
Ginat, who immediately realized he was witnessing an extraordinary sighting, sent the photos to his son-in-law, birder Dror Lang, who then forwarded them to leading ornithologists in Israel.
So far, the bird has not been seen or documented again.
White's thrush is a small bird from the thrush family whose natural habitat spans the northern forests of Asia, from the continent’s northeast to the slopes of the Ural Mountains.
According to Dr. Yoav Perlman, director of the Birding Center at the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel (SPNI), the thrush migrates to Southeast Asia and the Himalayas. It is only very rarely spotted in Western Europe. It likely reached Israel due to a deviation from its migration route, possibly caused by a storm or other unusual weather conditions.
“This is an exceptionally rare and exciting observation," Perlman said. "Not only because it is the species’s first recorded visit to Israel, but because it reminds us how rich and surprising the natural world can be."
White's thrush is a distinctly Asian species with no natural reason to be here. Such migration deviations are an inseparable part of the vast journeys of millions of birds each season, which cover thousands of kilometers twice a year. Even a small shift in flight angle can completely change their destination by thousands of kilometers,” he continued.
The SPNI added that White's thrush is an omnivorous bird with brown plumage on its upper side and white on its underside, featuring light white streaks on its wings in flight.
Since the report, dozens of birdwatchers from across the country have arrived at the site hoping to catch a glimpse of the rare species.
Other first-time bird sightings in Israel
In recent years, Israel has seen several other first-time sightings of birds originating from distant regions, including the sharp-tailed sandpiper, chestnut bunting, and Pacific diver.
“Each such encounter is an important scientific opportunity. It teaches us about the dynamism of migration systems and birds’ ability to adapt to environmental changes on a global scale. We hope it’s still around so more people can see it, but its chances of survival here are not high since it’s not adapted to local conditions,” Perlman added.
Alongside the excitement, SPNI emphasized the importance of protecting Israel’s habitats as safe stopover sites for migratory birds. “We are in the midst of migration season, and millions of birds are passing through here on their way between Europe, Asia, and Africa," Perlman explained." Our responsibility is to ensure they can stop, rest, and refuel in fields, parks, lakes, and restored areas. This is critical not only for the rare birds that arrive here by mistake, but for the entire global migration system."
"SPNI currently operates key restoration and habitat sites for migratory birds, including research stations in Kfar Ruppin, Ma’agan Michael, and Jerusalem, as part of ongoing efforts to protect migration routes that cross Israel, one of the world’s most important geographic bottlenecks for migratory birds,” he concluded.