328

CLAY-COLORED THRUSH  Turdus grayi 22–25cm. National bird of Costa

Rica, found widely in wooded and semi-open habitats, from highland pastures to

suburban gardens, plantations to humid forest edge. Often feeds on the ground,

also in fruiting trees and shrubs. Note warm brown plumage tones (darkest in

more humid areas), yellowish bill, amber eyes; cf. Pale-vented and Mountain

Thrushes, both of which can occur alongside Clay-colored. SOUNDS: Song a rich

caroling of mellow whistles, often with slightly lilting or jerky cadence and

irregular repetition of phrases; song of Pale-vented Thrush averages steadier,

richer, overall slower-paced, and less jerky. Calls include a slurred mewing iyeuuh

or uíreeh, often rising overall; and a short soft cluck, often in fairly rapid, slightly laughing series, kuh-kuh...,

mainly 1–2 secs; high thin siip mainly in flight. STATUS: Common to fairly common and widespread,

especially in lowlands; locally to 2700m, occasionally higher. (Mexico and s. Texas to n. Colombia.)

PALE-VENTED THRUSH  Turdus obsoletus 22–24cm. Humid foothill forest

and edge, adjacent second growth and clearings with fruiting trees and shrubs.

Mainly arboreal, but also feeds on ground, usually in shady cover; often forms

small post-breeding flocks. Note black bill and dark legs, contrasting whitish

undertail coverts. Cf. Clay-colored, White-throated, and Mountain Thrushes.

SOUNDS: Song a rich, rather steady-paced caroling of mellow whistles, lower

and less varied than White-throated Thrush, with less-frequent repetition of

phrases; averages slower-paced, more melodic, and less jerky than Clay-colored

Thrush. Call a nasal upslurred whiéh, at times in short series. STATUS: Fairly

common to uncommon on Caribbean slope, mainly 700–1600m; some fall–early winter movement to

adjacent lowlands. (Costa Rica to w. Ecuador.)

*WHITE-THROATED THRUSH  Turdus assimilis 22–24cm. Humid foothill

forest and edge, adjacent second growth with fruiting trees and shrubs. Mainly

arboreal, but also feeds on ground, usually in shady cover; often forms small

post-breeding flocks. Plumage tones variable, but note rich yellow bill and

eyering, blackish-streaked throat, white foreneck collar (may be hard to see

when birds are overhead or fluffed up). Adult male on n. Caribbean slope slaty

gray above with blacker head, yellowish legs; s. male brownish gray above, legs

often more pinkish yellow; female browner overall; imm. often has duller bill,

dull pinkish legs, especially in south. Juv. browner overall with duller bare parts,

variable dark spotting on breast, ghosting of adult throat pattern. SOUNDS: Song a prolonged, often

varied, rich caroling series of mellow whistles, high trills, and fluty notes with frequent 2–3× repetition of

phrases, typically fairly leisurely in pace. Calls include a nasal upslurred rriéh and hoo-ríeh; and a low,

burry or twangy urrh, easily passed off as a frog; high thin ssi mainly in flight. STATUS: Fairly common to

uncommon on Pacific slope, uncommon on Caribbean slope; mainly 800–1800m, locally higher; some

fall–early winter movement to adjacent lowlands. (Mexico to Panama.)