Turdus grayi
The Clay-colored Thrush, *Turdus grayi*, is a medium-sized songbird renowned for its drab yet distinctive appearance and its melodious, far-carrying song. Measuring approximately 23-27 cm (9-11 inches) in length and weighing around 74-76 grams (2.6-2.7 ounces), its plumage is predominantly a uniform olive-brown or clay-brown, lending it its descriptive name. Key identification features include a pale, often yellowish bill, a thin and broken pale eye-ring, and a faintly streaked throat. Taxono...
Found in a wide variety of semi-open to open habitats including forest edges, clearings, woodlands, shade coffee plantations, gardens, parks, and urban areas, primarily at low to mid-elevations from sea level up to around 2,400 meters.
Omnivorous, feeding primarily on a diverse array of invertebrates, including insects and earthworms, supplemented significantly by fruits and berries from numerous plant species.
Primarily a diurnal and crepuscular species, the Clay-colored Thrush is most active at dawn and dusk, when males sing vigorously from prominent perches. It forages predominantly on the ground, often seen hopping and running, pausing to cock its head to listen or observe, then probing the leaf lit...
The Clay-colored Thrush boasts an extensive geographic distribution, primarily encompassing Central America and northern South America. Its breeding range extends from the lower Rio Grande Valley of southern Texas, across eastern Mexico, and south through Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras,...
Least Concern
- The Clay-colored Thrush is the national bird of Costa Rica, known locally as the 'Yigüirro'. - Its distinctive song is widely associated with the beginning of the rainy season in Central America, symbolizing fertility and abundance. - This species is remarkably adaptable, thriving in human-modi...