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BLACK-FACED SOLITAIRE  Myadestes melanops 17–18cm. Retiring arboreal

thrush of humid highland and foothill forest, adjacent second growth and

pastures with fruiting shrubs. Mainly at low to mid-levels in shady understory,

bamboo thickets, but ventures to canopy in fruiting trees. Perches rather

upright and still for long periods; easily overlooked unless singing. Distinctive,

with bright­ orange bill, black face, habits. SOUNDS: Song a varied phrase of fluty

to burry semi-metallic whistles; sometimes bouts of 2–4 phrases, often in alter­

nating high-low sequence, with up to 30 secs or longer between bouts; other

times a more continuous sequence with phrases every 2–3 secs. Call a rough,

semi-metallic upslurred or overslurred rrreíeh. STATUS: Fairly common on both slopes, mainly 900–

2700m; some descend in fall–winter to adjacent Caribbean lowlands; reduced or extirpated locally by

capture for cagebird trade. (Costa Rica to w. Panama.)

GENUS CATHARUS

(8 species). Small forest thrushes, 4 spot-breasted migrants (this plate) and 5

more brightly marked residents known as nightingale-thrushes (next plate). Ages differ, with spotted juv.

plumage held briefly; sexes mostly similar. Favor shady forest floor and often elusive; also range at mid–

upper levels in fruiting trees; migrants may sing in spring (mainly Apr to mid-May).

*SWAINSON’S THRUSH  Catharus ustulatus 16.5–18cm. Varied wooded and

forested habitats, shade coffee plantations; mainly in humid foothills and low­

lands. Note pale buff spectacles, distinct buff wash to face and breast, olive-gray

upperparts. Cf. Gray-cheeked Thrush. SOUNDS: Call a sharp, slightly metallic

wuit. Song often heard in spring migration, a fluty, rich, upward-spiraling warble,

1.5–2 secs. STATUS: Common transient late Sep–Nov, late Mar to mid-May, with

smaller numbers from mid-Sep and into late May; fall migration mainly on

Caribbean slope, spring migration on both slopes; commonest in foothills, locally

to 3300m. Uncommon to scarce and local in winter on both slopes, to 1500m.

(Breeds N America, winters Mexico to S America.)

VEERY  Catharus fuscescens 16.5–18cm. Transient migrant on Caribbean Slope.

Rather shy and elusive. Note rusty upperparts, weak breast spotting, gray face

with weak pale eyering showing mainly as a postocular crescent, smoky-gray

flanks, voice. Some birds appreciably duller above, cf. Gray-cheeked Thrush.

SOUNDS:  Downslurred, slightly burry vheeu. STATUS:  Uncommon to fairly

common late Sep–Oct on Caribbean slope, to 1500m, a few from mid-Sep and

into Nov; scarce late Mar–early May, mainly on Caribbean slope. (Breeds N

America, winters S America.)

GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSH  Catharus minimus 16.5–18cm. Transient migrant

on Caribbean slope. Rather shy and elusive, rarely seen. From Swainson’s Thrush

by dull grayish face with poorly defined pale eyering, colder tones to breast,

voice; both have variably extensive dark spotting below. SOUNDS: Overslurred,

slightly nasal veeu, similar to Veery. STATUS: Uncommon to scarce late Sep to

mid-Nov on Caribbean slope, to 1500m; very rare Dec–Apr in humid lowlands

on both slopes. (Breeds n. N America, winters mainly S America.)

WOOD THRUSH  Hylocichla mustelina 19–20.5cm. Handsome small thrush

favoring humid lowland forest with fairly open understory. Habits like Catharus

thrushes, but can be more confiding in areas where acclimated to people.

Distinctive, with bright rusty upperparts (brightest on head), bold black spot­

ting on white underparts; larger and bulkier than Catharus. SOUNDS: Mainly

early and late in day, a fairly quick series of (usually 3–6) slightly liquid clucks,

whuit-whuit..., and lower wheh-wheh.…STATUS: Uncommon to fairly common

Oct–Apr on both slopes, locally to 1700m; more widespread in migration, late

Sep–Oct, Apr–early May. (Breeds e. N America, winters Mexico to Panama.)