The rufous-backed thrush (''Turdus rufopalliatus'') is a songbird of the thrush family. It is endemic to the Pacific slope of

Mexico Mexico, officially the United Mexican States, is a country in North America. It is the northernmost country in Latin America, and borders the United States to the north, and Guatemala and Belize to the southeast; while having maritime boundar ...

. It is also known as the rufous-backed robin.

Description

This species resembles its widespread relative the American robin in general appearance, but is a bit smaller at long, with an average wingspan of and weight of . It is named for the adult's rufous or olive-rufous upper back, which contrasts with the grayish head, nape, and rump. The chest and flanks are also rufous. The belly and undertail coverts are white; the throat is white with many black streaks. The bill and eye-ring are yellow. Females are typically somewhat duller-colored than males. Juveniles, like other juvenile ''Turdus'' thrushes, are spotted below; they are browner and have pale flecks above. The subspecies of the Islas Tres Marías, also found around San Blas, Nayarit, is sometimes considered a separate species, Grayson's robin or Grayson's thrush, ''Turdus graysoni'' ( Ridgway, 1882). It looks "washed out", with little rufous tinting. The song is slow and warbling, with repetition of phrases. An example is "''weedele loo loo freerlii...''" The alarm call is a long, mellow, descending whistle, "''cheeoo'' or ''teeeuu''". Other calls resemble those of the American robin; the flight call is thinner.

Range and habitat

The rufous-backed thrush inhabits dry deciduous forests, including the edges, and in human-planted habitats, at heights from the ground to high in trees. Its main range extends from southeastern

Sonora Sonora (), officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Sonora (), is one of the 31 states which, along with Mexico City, comprise the Administrative divisions of Mexico, Federal Entities of Mexico. The state is divided into Municipalities of Sonora, 72 ...

to the southeastern corner of

Oaxaca Oaxaca, officially the Free and Sovereign State of Oaxaca, is one of the 32 states that compose the political divisions of Mexico, Federative Entities of the Mexico, United Mexican States. It is divided into municipalities of Oaxaca, 570 munici ...

along the coast and in the Río Balsas drainage. The isolated populations in

Mexico City Mexico City is the capital city, capital and List of cities in Mexico, largest city of Mexico, as well as the List of North American cities by population, most populous city in North America. It is one of the most important cultural and finan ...

and

Oaxaca City Oaxaca de Juárez (), or simply Oaxaca (Valley Zapotec languages, Zapotec: ''Ndua''), is the capital and largest city of the eponymous Administrative divisions of Mexico, Mexican state of Oaxaca. It is the municipal seat for the surrounding munici ...

are probably descended from escaped cage birds. A number of vagrants have reached the Mexican-border states of the United States, where they are often found in riparian woods.

Behavior

This species is shyer than the American robin. In winter it often forms flocks. The diet is typical of thrushes: fruit and invertebrates, especially insects. Reproduction resembles that of other '' Turdus'' species. The eggs are whitish with heavy red-brown markings. In regard to nesting, nests are usually made of plant material mixed with mud, found in trees and shrubs, and can hold about 2–3 nestlings One of the parents tends to build the nest, while both sexes care for the nestlings and defend the nest territory.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q1062449 Turdus Endemic birds of Mexico Thrush, Rufous-backed Birds of the Sierra Madre Occidental Birds of the Sierra Madre del Sur Birds of the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt Fauna of Islas Marías Natural history of Colima Natural history of Nayarit Natural history of Oaxaca Natural history of Sonora Birds described in 1840