Aztec Thrush

The Aztec thrush, a member of the Turdidae family, is a medium-sized bird with a length ranging from 21.5 to 24 cm and a weight between 67 and 88 grams. The adult male is characterized by a dark brown hood, with pale flecks or streaks, and a pale brown supercilium. Its plumage includes dark brown back, scapulars, and coverts with white edges on the greater coverts. The primary coverts are black with grey tips, and the flight feathers are black with white patches. The underwing coverts are white, transitioning to blackish grey on the greater coverts. The tail is black or blackish brown with whitish grey tips. The breast is dark brown, while the rest of the underparts is white. The beak is dark brown, and the legs are pale pink. Females lack the hood and are paler with larger streaks, while juveniles are blackish with golden-buff marks on the head and back, a cinnamon or reddish-brown lower back, a black tail, and scaled underparts.

Identification Tips

When identifying the Aztec thrush, look for the male's distinctive dark brown hood and the pale brown supercilium. The white-edged greater coverts and the black primary coverts with grey tips are also key features. Females can be identified by their lack of a hood and paler coloration with larger streaks. Juveniles display a unique pattern of golden-buff marks on a blackish background.

Habitat

The Aztec thrush inhabits montane forests, particularly favoring ravines within pine and pine-oak forests at elevations of 1,800 to 3,500 meters above sea level.

Distribution

This species is primarily found in Mexico, with vagrants occasionally spotted in the United States, particularly from western Texas to southeastern Arizona. The first U.S. record was an immature bird observed in 1977 in Big Bend National Park, Texas.

Behaviour

Aztec thrushes are social birds, often seen in small groups and sometimes joining mixed-species foraging flocks. They forage in dense vegetation on the ground, feeding on berries and insects. Observations include a behavior where they cock their head while feeding.

Song & Calls

The vocal repertoire of the Aztec thrush includes calls such as "wheeerr," "prreep," "whein," and "sweee-uh." Its song consists of these calls repeated and intermixed with additional sounds.

Breeding

Breeding occurs from May to June in the southern part of their range. The Aztec thrush constructs a cup-shaped nest made of grass and moss, and the eggs laid are pale blue in color.

Conservation status

With a population estimated to be fewer than 50,000 individuals and a trend that is likely declining due to habitat loss, the Aztec thrush is currently assessed as Least Concern by the IUCN Red List. The decline is not rapid enough to qualify for a more threatened status, and both the range size and population size exceed the thresholds for vulnerable status.