Orange-billed Nightingale-Thrush

The Orange-billed Nightingale-Thrush, a member of the Turdidae family, is a small bird measuring approximately 14 cm in length. It is adorned with a vivid orange bill, eye ring, and legs. The plumage varies geographically; northern individuals display a brown back and cap with a contrasting whitish chest and belly, while their southern counterparts boast a grey crown with a darker chest and flanks.

Identification Tips

To identify the Orange-billed Nightingale-Thrush, look for its bright orange bill and eye ring, which are distinctive features. The coloration of the plumage can help determine the bird's origin, with northern birds having lighter undersides and southern birds having a grey crown and darker underparts.

Habitat

This species thrives in a variety of forested environments, including subtropical or tropical dry forests, moist lowland forests, moist montane forests, and areas of heavily degraded former forest.

Distribution

The Orange-billed Nightingale-Thrush has a broad range, found in countries such as Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Trinidad and Tobago, and Venezuela.

Behaviour

The bird is known to be fairly common within its range. It exhibits terrestrial foraging behavior, often seen on the ground as it searches for insects and fruit.

Song & Calls

The vocalizations of the Orange-billed Nightingale-Thrush are less musical compared to other thrushes. Its song is characterized by a nasal, slurred "whaaaaa," which is quite distinctive.

Diet and Feeding

Its diet consists of insects and fruit, which it forages for on the forest floor.

Conservation status

The IUCN Red List classifies the Orange-billed Nightingale-Thrush as Least Concern, indicating that it currently does not face any significant threats to its survival.