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NIGHTINGALE-THRUSHES

(5 species). Mostly rather retiring, heard far more often than seen

and may even appear absent from an area when not singing. Usually seen at edges and on quiet trails

early and late in day. Feed mainly on ground, where hop strongly, but regularly ascend to fruiting trees

and shrubs, even at times in canopy; mostly sing from concealed perches at low to mid-levels.

SLATY-BACKED NIGHTINGALE-THRUSH  Catharus fuscater 16.5–17.5cm.

Humid foothill forest, where mostly retiring in shady understory and on forest

floor. Distinctive, relatively large and overall dark nightingale-thrush with

bright orange bill (culmen sometimes dark) and legs, pale eyes. SOUNDS: Rising,

slightly burry or hollow quavering whiéh. Song a rather simple, short fluty

warble, 0.5–1 sec, every 2–6 secs; same phrase often repeated several ×, or 2

phrases alternated. Songs simpler, more plaintive than Ruddy-capped Nightin­

gale-Thrush. STATUS: Fairly common on Caribbean slope, locally on cen. Pacific

slope, mainly 800–2500m. (Costa Rica to S America.)

BLACK-HEADED NIGHTINGALE-THRUSH  Catharus mexicanus 15–16.5cm.

Humid foothill forest, where mostly retiring in dense understory and on shady

forest floor; raises crown feathers when agitated. Note diagnostic black cap with

deep orange bill and eyering; cf. Orange-billed Nightingale-Thrush if seen poorly

in shady understory. Juv. duller overall with buff-spotted upperparts, dull buffy

underparts mottled and scalloped blackish. SOUNDS: Rising to slightly overslurred,

rough burry mew, meahh. Song a rather complex, slightly tinny warble with trilled

components, 1–2 secs, every 1–6 secs; repeats or alternates songs. STATUS: Fairly

common on Caribbean slope, 300–1000m; locally on adjacent n. Pacific slope,

700–1500m. (Mexico to w. Panama.)

ORANGE-BILLED NIGHTINGALE-THRUSH  Catharus aurantiirostris 15.5–

16.5cm. Humid foothill forest edge, plantations, adjacent second growth

thickets; often in scrubbier, slightly drier habitats than other nightingale-

thrushes. Often cocks tail briefly before slowly lowering it. Note bright orange

bill (culmen sometimes dark) and legs, plain gray underparts. Juv. bill mostly

orange by 1st winter, cf. juv. Ruddy-capped Nightingale-Thrush. Comprises 2

groups in Costa Rica that have been considered species: northern Brown-

headed (melpomene) group and southern Gray-headed (griseiceps) group.

SOUNDS: Slightly overslurred, nasal mew, meéahr; may suggest Gray Catbird.

Song a rather jerky, short tinny warble, 0.5–1.5 secs, every 2–5 secs; same phrase typically repeated over

and over. STATUS: Fairly common on Pacific slope: Brown-headed s. to nw. Talamanca Mts., 600–2300m,

Gray-headed on s. Pacific slope, 400–1500m. (Mexico to nw. S America.)

RUDDY-CAPPED NIGHTINGALE-THRUSH  Catharus frantzii 16–17cm.

Humid highland forest and edge, adjacent second growth, where mainly in dense

shady understory, bamboo thickets. Told from Orange-billed Nightingale-Thrush

by dark maxilla, duller legs, lack of orange eyering; crown often slightly brighter

than back. Juv. duller overall with dark mottling on breast, not easily told from juv.

Orange-billed but legs may be duller. SOUNDS: Rising, burry to quavering rrríeh

and longer churriehr. Song a varied, short, rich fluty warble with semi-metallic

tones, 0.5–1 sec, every 1–6 secs; alternating songs often on slightly different

pitches. STATUS: Fairly common, mainly 1500–2500m. (Mexico to w. Panama.)

BLACK-BILLED NIGHTINGALE-THRUSH  Catharus gracilirostris 14–15cm.

Small, often confiding thrush of humid highland forest, adjacent second growth,

páramo, overgrown clearings, gardens. Hops on ground like other Catharus, and

often cocks tail briefly before slowly lowering it. Distinctive, with black bill, gray-

ish head, diffuse rusty breast band. Juv. duller, more olive-toned overall, under-

parts with dark smudging and mottling. SOUNDS: Clear rising whistle, whieeeh;

short rough mew run into burry chatter, mehr-chchch..., 1–2 secs. Song a varied,

thin fluty warble, often with terminal trill, 1–1.5 secs, every 2–6 secs; alternating

songs typically on different pitches. STATUS: Fairly common to common in Cen-

tral and Talamanca Mts., mainly 1900–3500m. (Costa Rica to w. Panama.)