Black-billed Nightingale-Thrush

The Black-billed Nightingale-Thrush, scientifically known as Catharus gracilirostris, is a diminutive and charming thrush, endemic to the misty highlands of Costa Rica and western Panama. This species, with its olive-brown upperparts and a grey crown, is a delightful sight. The underparts are a paler grey, transitioning to whitish on the belly, with an olive breast band adding to its subtle elegance. The bill, as its name suggests, is a striking black.

Identification Tips

Adults measure between 13.5 to 16 cm in length and weigh around 21 g. The juvenile birds can be distinguished by their darker head and underparts, a brown breast band, and brown markings on the belly. Birds from the Chiriqui mountains in western Panama exhibit a slightly more rufous coloration above and are paler below, leading some to consider them a separate subspecies, C. g. accentor.

Habitat

The Black-billed Nightingale-Thrush favors the undergrowth of wet mountain oak forests and secondary growth. It is typically found at altitudes above 1350 meters, extending to the scrubbery beyond the timberline.

Distribution

This species is confined to the highlands of Costa Rica and western Panama, where it is a resident bird, meaning it does not typically migrate.

Behaviour

A creature of habit, the Black-billed Nightingale-Thrush forages low in the vegetation or on the forest floor, either alone or in pairs. It moves in a series of hops and dashes, pausing frequently to overturn leaf litter in search of prey, in the manner typical of thrushes. Despite its preference for dense habitats, it is known for its tame and often confiding nature.

Song & Calls

The song of this thrush is a melodious composition, starting with up to three flute-like tones followed by a jumbled trill. Its call is a high, thin 'seet', easily discernible in the quiet of its mountainous home.

Breeding

The nest of the Black-billed Nightingale-Thrush is a bulky lined cup, constructed 1–5 m above ground in a scrub or small tree. The typical clutch consists of 2 greenish-blue eggs, adorned with brown blotches.

Diet and Feeding

An inquisitive forager, this thrush turns over leaf litter to find insects and spiders, its primary diet. It also has a taste for small fruits, which it consumes in abundance.

Conservation status

The Black-billed Nightingale-Thrush is currently listed as Least Concern by the IUCN, indicating that, for now, this species does not face any imminent threats to its survival.