Turdus reevei
The Plumbeous-backed Thrush (*Turdus reevei*) is a distinctive medium-sized passerine, measuring approximately 20-23 cm (8-9 inches) in length. Males boast a striking slate-gray back and head, contrasting sharply with a white throat heavily streaked with dark lines, and a whitish belly that often exhibits a buffy wash towards the flanks. Its bright yellow bill, often with a dusky tip, provides another key identification mark. Females are generally duller, presenting a browner cast to their up...
This species primarily inhabits humid montane forests, cloud forest edges, and secondary growth, often tolerating human-modified landscapes like gardens near forested areas. It is typically found at elevations ranging from 1,000 to 3,000 meters (3,300-9,800 feet) in the Andes.
An omnivorous feeder, the Plumbeous-backed Thrush primarily consumes insects and other invertebrates (such as worms and larvae), supplemented by a substantial intake of fruits and berries, often foraging by gleaning from the ground or low vegetation.
The Plumbeous-backed Thrush is a diurnal species, commonly observed foraging on the forest floor, meticulously sifting through leaf litter for invertebrates. Its foraging strategy is primarily ground gleaning, though it readily consumes fruits directly from shrubs and trees. During the breeding s...
The Plumbeous-backed Thrush is endemic to the high-elevation Andean regions of southern Ecuador and northern Peru. Its breeding and resident range extends in Ecuador from Loja Province southwards, and throughout the Andes of Peru, from Cajamarca and Amazonas south through departments including Sa...
Least Concern
- The 'plumbeous' in its name directly refers to the distinctive lead-gray coloration of its back, a key field mark. - Its scientific name, *Turdus reevei*, honors Lovell Augustus Reeve, a prominent 19th-century British conchologist and publisher. - Unlike many thrush species, the Plumbeous-backe...