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Sooty Thrush - BirdForum Opus

Alternative name: Sooty Robin

Photo by Stanley Jones
San José Province, Costa Rica. March, 2007
Turdus nigrescens

Identification

24-25.5 cm Very typical appearance and habits of the Turdus genus, but easily identifiable by color

  • body brownish-black
  • wings and tail black
  • Black lores
  • bill and legs chrome yellow to orange
  • eye ring bare, chrome yellow
  • iris pale grey
Female
Photo by scottishdude
Savegre, Costa Rica, March 2011

Female: similar but browner and rather paler; yellowish-orange bare parts

Juvenile: dull brown with buff, cinnamon or orange streaks on the head and upperparts (on the underparts may give the impression of bars). Scapulars and mantle with pale central streaks, coverts with pale tips. The paler feathers on the head may form a loose pale arc around the ear. The bill is often dark with a yellower base.

Juvenile. Photo by Sirto
Vicinity of Parque Nacional Los Quetzales, Costa Rica. June 2019

Distribution

Central America: found in the mountains of Costa Rica and western Panama (extreme western Chiriquí).

Taxonomy

This is a monotypic species[1].

Habitat

Open areas and oak forest edge usually at high elevation.

Behaviour

Breeding

It builds a heavy grass-lined cup nest. The 2 unmarked greenish-blue eggs are laid between March and May.

Diet

It turns leaf litter seeking insects and spiders, and also eats small fruits.

References

  1. Clements, JF. 2010. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2010. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019. Spreadsheet available at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/Clements%206.5.xls/view
  2. Wikipedia

Recommended Citation

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