The sexes are similar, 27–31 cm long, with black scaling on a paler white or yellowish background.

Z. aurea (White's thrush), including the questionable subspecies Z. a. toratugumi, is the migratory Siberian and north-east Asian form.

Z. neilgherriensis (Nilgiri thrush) is resident in the hills of southwest India.

Z. d. dauma (scaly thrush) breeds in the Himalaya and migrates to the foothills in winter.

Z. d. horsfieldi (Horsfield's thrush) is resident in Indonesia on the islands of Sumatra, Java, Bali, Lombok and Sumbawa.