Common Name: Rufous-backed Robin, Rufous-backed Thrush, Grayson’s Thrush
Scientific Name: Turdus rufopalliatus
Order/Family: Passeriformes/Turdidae (Thrush)
Subspecies: The subspecies of the Islas Tres Marías, also found around San Blas, Nayarit, is sometimes considered a separate species, Grayson’s robin or Grayson’s thrush (Turdus graysoni).
Description: It is named for the adult’s rufous or olive-rufous upper back, which contrasts with the grayish head, nape, and rump. The chest and flanks are orange. The belly and undertail coverts are white; the throat is white with many black streaks. The bill is yellow and eye-ring is red to pink. Females are typically somewhat duller-colored than males. Juveniles, like other juvenile Turdus thrushes, are spotted below; they are browner and have pale flecks above.
Distribution: The Rufous-backed Robin is a common
resident and endemic to the Pacific slope of Mexico,
from southern Sonora south to Oaxaca. This bird’s breeding distribution is changing, showing a pattern of northward expansion into Arizona and even Nevada and Utah.
Habitat: Found in deciduous forests, from semi-arid to semi-humid. They also may be found in suburban areas and parks.
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