Black-billed Nightingale-thrush
Encyclopedia
The Black-billed Nightingale-thrush (Catharus gracilirostris) is a small thrush
endemic to the highlands of Costa Rica
and western Panama
. Its position in the genus
Catharus is somewhat equivocal, but it is apparently closer to the Hermit Thrush
than to the other nightingale-thrushes except the Russet Nightingale-thrush
and/or the Ruddy-capped Nightingale-thrush
(Winker & Pruett, 2006).
It is found in the undergrowth of wet mountain oak
forests and second growth, typically from above 1350 m altitude to patches of scrubbery beyond the timberline. The nest is a bulky lined cup constructed 1–5 m high in a scrub or small tree, and the typical clutch is 2 brown-blotched greenish-blue eggs
This small species is 13.5 to 16 cm in length and weighs 21 g. The adult has olive- brown upperparts, a grey crown, paler grey underparts, becoming whitish on the belly, and an olive breast band. Its bill is black.
The juvenile is darker on the head and underparts, has a brown breast band, and the belly is marked with brown. The birds in the Chiriqui mountains of western Panama are slightly more rufous above and paler below than the Costa Rican population, and are sometimes considered as a subspecies, C. g. accentor.
The Black-billed Nightingale-thrush will normally forage low in vegetation or on the forest floor, alone on in pairs, progressing in hops and dashes with frequent stops. It turns leaf litter in typical thrush fashion seeking insect
s and spider
s, and also eats many small fruits. Despite its habitat, this species is tame and often confiding.
This Black-billed Nightingale-thrush's song is up to three flute-like tones followed by a jumbled trill, and the call is a high thin seet.
Thrush (bird)
The thrushes, family Turdidae, are a group of passerine birds that occur worldwide.-Characteristics:Thrushes are plump, soft-plumaged, small to medium-sized birds, inhabiting wooded areas, and often feed on the ground or eat small fruit. The smallest thrush may be the Forest Rock-thrush, at and...
endemic to the highlands of Costa Rica
Costa Rica
Costa Rica , officially the Republic of Costa Rica is a multilingual, multiethnic and multicultural country in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the southeast, the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Caribbean Sea to the east....
and western Panama
Panama
Panama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
. Its position in the genus
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
Catharus is somewhat equivocal, but it is apparently closer to the Hermit Thrush
Hermit Thrush
The Hermit Thrush is a medium-sized North American thrush. It is not very closely related to the other North American migrant species of Catharus, but rather to the Mexican Russet Nightingale-thrush.-Description:...
than to the other nightingale-thrushes except the Russet Nightingale-thrush
Russet Nightingale-thrush
The Russet Nightingale-thrush is a species of bird in the Turdidae family.It is endemic to Mexico.Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montanes.-Description:...
and/or the Ruddy-capped Nightingale-thrush
Ruddy-capped Nightingale-thrush
The Ruddy-capped Nightingale-thrush is a small thrush which is a resident breeder in mountain forests from central Mexico to western Panama. A predominantly brown-plumaged bird, it has a rich song.-Taxonomy and naming:...
(Winker & Pruett, 2006).
It is found in the undergrowth of wet mountain oak
Oak
An oak is a tree or shrub in the genus Quercus , of which about 600 species exist. "Oak" may also appear in the names of species in related genera, notably Lithocarpus...
forests and second growth, typically from above 1350 m altitude to patches of scrubbery beyond the timberline. The nest is a bulky lined cup constructed 1–5 m high in a scrub or small tree, and the typical clutch is 2 brown-blotched greenish-blue eggs
This small species is 13.5 to 16 cm in length and weighs 21 g. The adult has olive- brown upperparts, a grey crown, paler grey underparts, becoming whitish on the belly, and an olive breast band. Its bill is black.
The juvenile is darker on the head and underparts, has a brown breast band, and the belly is marked with brown. The birds in the Chiriqui mountains of western Panama are slightly more rufous above and paler below than the Costa Rican population, and are sometimes considered as a subspecies, C. g. accentor.
The Black-billed Nightingale-thrush will normally forage low in vegetation or on the forest floor, alone on in pairs, progressing in hops and dashes with frequent stops. It turns leaf litter in typical thrush fashion seeking insect
Insect
Insects are a class of living creatures within the arthropods that have a chitinous exoskeleton, a three-part body , three pairs of jointed legs, compound eyes, and two antennae...
s and spider
Spider
Spiders are air-breathing arthropods that have eight legs, and chelicerae with fangs that inject venom. They are the largest order of arachnids and rank seventh in total species diversity among all other groups of organisms...
s, and also eats many small fruits. Despite its habitat, this species is tame and often confiding.
This Black-billed Nightingale-thrush's song is up to three flute-like tones followed by a jumbled trill, and the call is a high thin seet.