Chiguanco Thrush (Turdus chiguanco)

Identification & Behavior: ~26 cm (10.2 in). The Chiguanco Thrush is smoky gray with a yellow bill and legs. Sexes are alike. The underparts on the juvenile are buffly scaled with dusky. It forages on the ground and dry scrub, agricultural fields, and urban areas. It is similar to the Great Thrush but is distinguished by smaller size, by a lack of an eyering on the male, and by favoring dry habitats.

Status: The Chiguanco Thrush is common and widespread throughout both slopes of the Andes and inter-Andean valleys. It generally ranges at elevations between 2400-4400 m but on the west slope, it descends to “lomas habitats” nearly down to sea level. It also occurs in Ec, Bo, and Ch.

Name in Spanish: Zorzal Chiguanco.

Sub-species: Chiguanco Thrush (Turdus chiguanco chiguanco), d’Orbigny and Lafresnaye, 1837.  coastal Peru, W Bolivia and extreme N Chile.
(Turdus chiguanco conradi), Salvadori and Festa, 1899.  S Bolivia and NE Chile S to WC Argentina.

Meaning of Name: Turdus: L. turdus= thrush. chiguanco: Aymará name Chiguanco for the Chiguanco Thrush, d’Orbigny 1834.

See more of the Family Turdidae