Grey-throated Chat

Overview

The grey-throated chat (Granatellus sallaei) is a small bird belonging to the family Cardinalidae, native to lowland regions of Belize, Guatemala, and Mexico. It is classified as a species of Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

Identification

• Approximately 13 cm in length, with a grey head, back, wings, and tail in males featuring a white supercilium.
• Male underparts are rose-red on the breast and vent with white remaining areas, while females have buff supercillium, face, breast, and vent with white throat and belly.
• Song consists of a variable series of 4–5 whistled notes, accompanied by a fairly harsh 'chwit' call.

Habitat

Found in the lowlands of southern Veracruz, Tabasco, eastern Oaxaca, and northern Chiapas in Mexico, as well as from the Yucatán Peninsula south to central Guatemala and Belize. It inhabits dry to semi-humid forests, their edges, adjacent dense scrub, and thickets within evergreen forest, while avoiding humid forests.

Diet

The bird forages by gleaning on the ground and in low vegetation, often following army ant swarms. Its diet consists primarily of insects and other arthropods.

Did you know?

Pairs of grey-throated chats remain on their territory year-round, and the only published nest record found contained just two eggs.