Andean Slaty Thrush (Turdus nigriceps)

Identification & Behavior: ~19.5 cm (7.6 in). The male Andean Slaty Thrush is all bluish-gray, slightly darker on the upperparts. The throat is whitish streaked with black. The bill and legs are yellow. The female is brown with whitish throat faintly streaked with brown. The bill and legs are dusky. It forages mostly on the ground at forest edges and openings. The female is similar to the female Pale-eyed Thrush and Glossy-black Thrush but is distinguished by a whitish throat faintly streaked with brown. Field identification of female Turdus can be challenging.

Status: The  Andean Slaty Thrush is an uncommon Austral migrant to the humid montane forest of the east slope of the Andes at elevations ranging between 700-1800 m. It also occurs on the northwest slope of the Andes (Piura and Lambayeque) apparently as a breeder but disappears after the breeding season of November through February. The Slaty Thrush also occurs in Ec, Br, and Bo.

Name in Spanish: Zorzal Pizarroso.

Sub-species: Andean Slaty Thrush (Turdus nigriceps nigriceps), Cabanis, 1874.

Meaning of Name: Turdus: L. turdus= thrush. nigriceps: L. niger= black and ceps= head, -headed.

See more of the Family Turdidae