Black-billed Nightingale-Thrush

Overview

The black-billed nightingale-thrush (Catharus gracilirostris) is a species of bird in the family Turdidae found in Costa Rica and Panama. It is a year-round resident that possesses the smallest range of any Catharus thrush.

Identification

• Approximately 15 cm long with sexes having identical plumage.
• Adults feature slate-gray forecrown and face, olive-brown upperparts, and an olivaceous band across the breast.
• Dark brown iris, black bill, and dark gray legs.
• Song comprises up to 18 distinct phrases that typically alternate between higher and lower pitches.

Habitat

Primarily inhabits montane evergreen forest, elfin forest, and páramo in upper subtropical and temperate zones, ranging from 1,800 m to timberline. Its distribution is disjunct across the Cordillera Central and Cordillera de Talamanca in Costa Rica and Chiriquí Province in Panama.

Diet

Feeds mostly on small insects, with spiders and small amounts of fruit also included. It forages singly or in pairs, usually on the ground by tossing leaves and leaf litter, but may also forage in the canopy or along trails.

Did you know?

Despite being a small forest bird, the black-billed nightingale-thrush is often quite tame and has an estimated population of between 20,000 and 50,000 mature individuals.