Myadestes occidentalis
The Brown-backed Solitaire (Myadestes occidentalis) is a medium-sized thrush, measuring approximately 20.5-23 cm (8-9 in) in length and weighing 34-45 g (1.2-1.6 oz). Its plumage is largely nondescript, featuring a uniform grayish-brown back, head, and breast, contrasting with a paler, often whitish, belly and undertail coverts. Distinctive field marks include a prominent white eye-ring, a short, stout black bill with a pale yellow or grayish base, and subtle rufous-brown patches on the outer...
This solitaire primarily inhabits humid montane evergreen and pine-oak forests, including cloud forests and shaded coffee plantations. It typically resides at elevations ranging from 1000 to 3000 meters (3,300-9,800 feet) above sea level.
Its diet primarily consists of insects, such as beetles, ants, and caterpillars, which it gleans from vegetation or catches in flight. This is supplemented significantly by small fruits and berries, particularly those of mistletoe and various forest shrubs.
The Brown-backed Solitaire is largely diurnal, often observed perching quietly and solitarily for extended periods in the understory or mid-canopy, making it quite elusive despite its melodious song. Foraging strategies involve gleaning insects from foliage and branches, as well as occasional sal...
The Brown-backed Solitaire is a resident species primarily found in the montane regions of Mexico and Central America. Its breeding range extends from the Sierra Madre Occidental and Oriental in Mexico, southward through the highlands of Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras, reaching as far as no...
Least Concern
- The Brown-backed Solitaire's song is often described as one of the most beautiful and complex avian vocalizations in the Americas, a true 'flute of the forest'. - Despite its exquisite song, this bird is notoriously difficult to spot due to its cryptic plumage and tendency to perch motionlessly...