Catharus fuscater
The Slaty-backed Nightingale-Thrush (*Catharus fuscater*) is a true gem of the neotropical cloud forests, renowned for its ethereal, flute-like song that echoes through the dense understory. Averaging 17-18.5 cm (6.7-7.3 in) in length and weighing 30-40 g, this medium-sized thrush sports a striking, uniformly dark slaty-gray plumage across its back, head, and breast, contrasting sharply with a rich rufous-chestnut belly and undertail coverts. Its distinctive dark bill often features a bright ...
Found primarily in humid montane evergreen forests and cloud forests, favoring dense undergrowth, ravines, and shaded areas at elevations typically ranging from 1,200 to over 3,000 meters.
Primarily insectivorous, consuming a variety of insects (e.g., beetles, ants, caterpillars, grasshoppers) and other invertebrates like spiders and earthworms, supplemented with small fruits and berries.
This thrush is largely diurnal but exhibits secretive habits, often observed hopping unobtrusively on the forest floor, though its presence is frequently betrayed by its magnificent song. It forages primarily by flicking leaf litter aside with its bill and feet to uncover invertebrates, also glea...
The Slaty-backed Nightingale-Thrush has an extensive and disjunct range across Central and South America. In Central America, it is resident in the highlands of Costa Rica and western Panama. Its South American distribution spans the Andes, starting from western Venezuela and the isolated Santa M...
Least Concern
- Its song is often described as one of the most beautiful and complex of any thrush, featuring rich, fluty whistles that can carry long distances through dense montane forests. - Despite its powerful voice, the Slaty-backed Nightingale-Thrush is incredibly secretive and more often heard than see...