Speckled Nightingale-Thrush (Catharus maculatus)

Identification & Behavior: ~17 cm (6.6 in). The Speckled Nightingale-Thrush has a black head and gray rest of the upper parts. It has a pale iris and orange eyering, bill, and legs. The underparts are yellow spotted with dusky. It forages in the understory and floor of montane forests and semi-deciduous forests in Tumbes. It is similar to the closely related Slaty-backed Nightingale-Thrush but is distinguished by a lighter overall plumage and yellow underparts spotted with dusky.

Status: The Speckled Nightingale-Thrush is uncommon to rare in montane forests of the east slope of the Andes at elevations ranging between 700-1800 m. It also occurs in the semi-deciduous forest of extreme northwest Peru in Tumbes. The Speckled Nightingale-Thrush also occurs in Co, Ec, and Bo.

Name in Spanish: Zorzal Moteado.

Sub-species: Speckled Nightingale-Thrush (Catharus maculatus), (P. L. Sclater), 1858.

Meaning of Name: Catharus: Gr. katharos= pure, clean. maculatus: L. macula= spot and maculare= to make spotted.

Note: The Speckled Nightingale-Thrush was formerly known as Spotted Nightingale-Thrush.

See more of the Family Turdidae