Toxostoma guttatum
The Cozumel Thrasher (Toxostoma guttatum) is an enigmatic and critically endangered passerine, possibly extinct, endemic solely to Cozumel Island, Mexico. This medium-sized thrasher typically measures around 21.5-24 cm (8.5-9.5 inches) in length, featuring a slender build and a remarkably long tail. Its plumage is characterized by rich rufous-brown upperparts, contrasting with paler underparts heavily marked with prominent, triangular dark brown spots on the breast and flanks. A distinctive p...
This secretive species inhabits undisturbed lowland tropical semi-deciduous forest with dense undergrowth, favoring areas with a deep leaf litter layer for foraging.
Its diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates gleaned from leaf litter and probed from the soil, supplemented with some small fruits or berries.
The Cozumel Thrasher is primarily diurnal and highly secretive, spending most of its time hidden within dense undergrowth. Its foraging strategy involves characteristic thrasher behavior, meticulously raking through leaf litter and probing soft soil with its decurved bill to unearth invertebrates...
The Cozumel Thrasher is strictly endemic to Cozumel Island, located off the eastern coast of Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula. Its historical range encompassed undisturbed lowland tropical semi-deciduous forests across the island, predominantly in the interior. This species is entirely non-migratory, r...
Critically Endangered
- The Cozumel Thrasher is one of the world's rarest birds, potentially extinct, with no confirmed sightings since 2004. - It is an island endemic, meaning it is found nowhere else on Earth except Cozumel Island, Mexico. - Its population plummeted dramatically after Hurricane Roxanne devastated Co...