Red-breasted Chat

The Red-breasted Chat, a member of the Cardinalidae family, is a small bird endemic to Mexico. It exhibits a striking vermilion on the lower breast, belly, and vent area, with the adult male featuring a bluish-gray upperside and a distinctive black face with a broad white supercilium. The female is more subdued with slate gray upperparts and buff shades on the face, breast, and belly.

Identification Tips

Adult males can be identified by their bluish-gray upperside and black face, accented by a white supercilium and a black chest band. The vermilion coloring on the chest, lower breast, belly, and vent area is quite vivid. Females and immatures are less colorful, with the females displaying slate gray upperparts and buff underparts, and immatures showing a pink wash on the whitish throat and underparts.

Habitat

This species is primarily found in thorn forests and scrubby woodlands, often in the understory of secondary forests and other dense growth. It also inhabits evergreen swamp forests and areas along rivers.

Distribution

The Red-breasted Chat is endemic to western Mexico, with its range extending from Sinaloa south to the Isthmus of Tehuantepec and possibly into northern Guatemala. It is also found inland along the Balsas River to Morelos and on the Islas Marías off Nayarit.

Behaviour

While not much is known about the Red-breasted Chat's foraging habits, it is presumed to feed on insects and other arthropods.

Song & Calls

The song of the Red-breasted Chat is a sweet warble, repeated variably, while its call is characterized by a "wet plek or plik" sound.

Breeding

Breeding occurs during the wet season from May to September. The nest is a cup constructed from Spanish moss and other fibers, lined with finer materials. Clutch sizes range from two to four eggs, with only the female incubating, but both sexes contribute to feeding the nestlings.

Conservation Status

The IUCN has classified the Red-breasted Chat as Least Concern. However, it is noted that the species is found in only two protected areas and that less than 20% of the original forest within its range remains intact.