Hauxwell's Thrush

Overview

Hauxwell's thrush (Turdus hauxwelli) is a species of bird in the family Turdidae. It is a year-round resident of the upper Amazon Basin, found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and possibly Venezuela.

Identification

• Length of 20 to 23 cm and weight of approximately 69 g.
• Rufous-brown head with a dark-streaked whitish throat, and rich rufous-brown upperparts, wings, and tail.
• Medium brown breast, whitish belly, and vent area with brown feather tips.
• Brownish gray bill and legs, with a dark iris; song consists of leisurely, melodic phrases and includes calls like an ascending drreee? and a querulous upslurred kweeeow?

Habitat

Inhabits humid forest, particularly várzea and stands on river islands and riverbanks, as well as terra firme forest. Range spans the upper Amazon Basin from eastern Colombia south through eastern Ecuador and Peru into northern Bolivia, extending to western Brazil. Elevational limits vary by country, reaching up to 1,500 m in Peru.

Diet

Feeds on insects, other invertebrates, and fruit. Forages mostly in trees but also on the ground.

Did you know?

The species was named in compliment to John Hauxwell, a well-known collector on the Upper Amazon and its tributaries, and it has a complicated taxonomic history, having been considered a subspecies of other thrushes before regaining full species status. Its song sometimes mimics the songs of other species.