Speckled Nightingale-Thrush
NameSpeckled Nightingale-Thrush
Common NameSpeckled Nightingale-Thrush
Scientific NameCatharus maculatus
FamilyTurdidae
Wingspan (cm)28
Length (cm)17
Weight (g)35
Plumage DetailsThe head is solid black, contrasting sharply with a bright orange bill and orbital ring. The upperparts are olive-brown, while the underparts are bright yellow, heavily spotted and streaked with black, particularly on the breast and flanks. Legs are bright orange.
Vocalization / CallKnown for its complex, flute-like, ethereal song, typical of Catharus thrushes, often consisting of clear, rising and falling phrases.
Primary Dietomnivore
Primary Habitatsforest, mountain
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Geographic RangeFound in Central America, from southern Mexico (Chiapas) south through Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and western Panama.
Identifying Featuresblack head, bright orange bill, bright orange legs, yellow underparts with heavy black speckling, olive-brown back
Description
This shy, medium-sized thrush is characterized by its striking black head, bright orange bill, and vibrant yellow, heavily speckled underparts. It typically forages on the forest floor, often in dense undergrowth, in humid montane forests.
