Catharus aurantiirostris
The Orange-billed Nightingale-Thrush (*Catharus aurantiirostris*) is a captivating songbird belonging to the Turdidae family, renowned for its melodious vocalizations. Measuring approximately 15-18 cm (6-7 inches) in length and weighing 22-38 grams, this medium-sized thrush features olive-brown upperparts, grayish flanks, and a whitish belly, creating a subtly camouflaged appearance in its dense habitat. Its most striking field mark, and the source of its name, is a brilliant orange bill, com...
This species primarily inhabits subtropical and tropical moist montane forests, cloud forests, coffee plantations, and woodland edges, typically at elevations ranging from 600 to 3000 meters.
Their diet consists mainly of insects, including beetles, ants, and larvae, as well as spiders. They also consume small fruits and berries, particularly during the non-breeding season, primarily foraging by gleaning from the forest floor.
The Orange-billed Nightingale-Thrush is predominantly diurnal, spending its days foraging actively on the forest floor, though it can be quite secretive and often heard more than seen. It employs a ground-gleaning foraging strategy, meticulously sifting through leaf litter for invertebrates. Duri...
The Orange-billed Nightingale-Thrush boasts an extensive range across the Neotropics, extending from central Mexico (from San Luis Potosà and Tamaulipas) southward through Central America. Its distribution includes Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama. Conti...
Least Concern
- Despite its common name, the Orange-billed Nightingale-Thrush is not closely related to the true nightingales of the Old World, but is named for the beautiful, complex quality of its song. - Its scientific name, *aurantiirostris*, is derived from Latin, meaning 'orange-billed,' a direct referen...