Turdus nigrescens
The Sooty Thrush, *Turdus nigrescens*, is a robust, medium-sized thrush endemic to the high-elevation cloud forests and páramos of Costa Rica and western Panama. Measuring 22-25 cm (8.7-9.8 inches) in length and weighing 74-104 g (2.6-3.7 oz), its most striking feature is its uniformly dark, sooty-black plumage, contrasted sharply by a bright yellow-orange bill, legs, and a prominent yellow-orange eye-ring. This striking combination of dark body and vivid yellow appendages serves as its most ...
Found in high-elevation montane cloud forests, subpáramo, and forest edges, typically between 1,800-3,500 meters (5,900-11,500 feet) above sea level.
Primarily omnivorous, feeding on a diverse range of invertebrates (e.g., earthworms, insects, snails) gleaned from the ground, supplemented by a significant intake of small fruits and berries.
Sooty Thrushes are diurnal, often observed foraging conspicuously on the ground, gleaning invertebrates like earthworms and insects. They also perch to consume fruits from montane shrubs. Males are highly territorial during the breeding season, delivering rich, fluty songs from prominent perches ...
The Sooty Thrush is a resident, non-migratory species found exclusively in the highlands of Central America. Its geographic distribution is restricted to the towering Cordillera de Tilarán, Cordillera Central, and Cordillera de Talamanca mountain ranges of Costa Rica, extending southeastward into...
Least Concern
- It is one of the darkest-plumaged thrushes globally, perfectly matching its 'sooty' descriptor. - The vibrant yellow-orange bill, legs, and eye-ring create an unmistakable contrast against its dark body. - This species is an extreme high-altitude specialist, rarely encountered below 1,800 meter...