Rufous-bellied Thrush

Overview

The rufous-bellied thrush (Turdus rufiventris) is a songbird of the thrush family that is one of the most common birds across much of southeastern Brazil. It holds significant cultural status as the national bird of Brazil and the state bird of São Paulo.

Identification

• Distinctive reddish-orange underparts, which give the species its name.
• Reaches a length of 25 cm.
• Males typically weigh about 59 g and females about 64 g; although females can be plumper, their tarsi are slightly shorter on average than those of males.

Habitat

Found in forests and urban wooded areas across most of eastern and southeastern Brazil, as well as Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay, and central regions of Argentina.

Diet

An omnivorous bird that feeds mainly on fruits and arthropods. It can be seen attending mixed-species feeding flocks and moving through bushes with many other birds, occasionally squabbling with common marmosets over food.

Did you know?

The bird's song is often heard in afternoons, but is especially prominent during the nights between August and November, when thousands of them sing until sunrise.