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(Redirected from Catharus guttatus)
Photo © by Forcreeks
Milwaukie, Oregon, November 2003
Catharus guttatus

Identification

Photo © by KC Foggin
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, April 2010

16–18 cm (6¼-7.5 in)
Small. As with other Catharus thrushes, underwing has white dark white pattern. Breast only sparsely and sparingly spotted, but spots are large. Flanks usually entirely unspotted. Grey-brown above, with rusty-red tone to rump and tail (like Nightingale, but is slightly bigger, more compact and shorter-tailed than that species, besides other plumage differences). White eye-ring. Easily identified with sound. Song is a haunting low pitched whstle that ascends into a high pitched echo. Often sings in the morning and evening.

Distribution

Breeds in southern Alaska and across Canada to Newfoundland, south to California in the west and Maryland in the east.

Leaves breeding areas late September-early November and winters from the southern part of the breeding range south to Central America, returning in early April-May.

In the Western Palearctic recorded in Iceland, the British Isles, Sweden and Germany, as well as 3 old records from Luxembourg. British records mainly on Shetland and Scilly in October but also recorded in spring.

Taxonomy

Subspecies

Photo © by ducbucln
Kelseyville, California, October 2012

This is a polytypic species, consisting of 9 subspecies1 (although more are recognized by other authorities)2:

A study shows genetic divisions within this species possibly indicating a future split3.

Habitat

Coniferous and mixed forest from wet lowlands to 300m in mountains. In winter often in drier situations, also gardens and town parks.

Behaviour

Often jerks tail upwards and slowly lowers it.

Diet

During spring and summer their diet consists mainly of insects such as beetles, caterpillars, bees, ants, wasps, and flies. In the autumn and winter they switch to fruit and berries.

Breeding

The nest is built by the female and generally placed either in a low bush or on the ground. It is constructed from grass, leaves and pine needles; lined with soft plant materials. The clutch consists of 3-6 pale blue eggs which are incubated for 11-13 days; fledging occurs after about 10-15 days. There may be a second brood.

Vocalisation

A very musical sound that is one of the most beautiful bird sounds in the world. Sounds like an unknown musical instrument.

References

  1. Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2018. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2018. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
  2. Avibase
  3. Paper describing genetic findings with this species
  4. Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (retrieved Aug 2018)

Recommended Citation

External Links

GSearch checked for 2020 platform.

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