Red-legged Thrush
Turdus plumbeus
An often conspicuous ground-dwelling species that occurs in a wide variety of habitats from brush and gardens to dense woods. Appearance highly variable across its range but throughout is unique in its blue-tinged gray plumage combined with bright orange-red legs and eyering. Song is typically a series of deliberate whistled couplets. Calls include a variety of squeaks, chucks, and a loud “tsee-up.”
Identification
This large thrush measures 27 cm (11 in) and weighs approximately 75 g (2.6 oz), depending on subspecies. It is mainly bluish-grey above and lighter-grey below with a white and black throat with a striped appearance. The legs, bill and eye ring are bright orange-red. There is notable variation in plumage between the subspecies.
Taxonomy
The red-legged thrush was formally described by the Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus in 1758 in the tenth edition of his Systema Naturae under its current binomial name Turdus plumbeus. Linnaeus based his account of the "red leg'd thrush" that had been described and illustrated by the English naturalist Mark Catesby in his book The Natural History of Carolina, Florida and the Bahama Islands. The specific epithet is Latin meaning "leaden", "plumbeous" or "lead-coloured".<p>Six subspecies are recognised:<p>The IUCN Red List considers T. p. rubripes and T. p. ardosiaceus to be their own species, as the western red-legged thrush and eastern red-legged thrush, respectively.
- Scientific name
- Turdus plumbeus
- Authority
- Linnaeus, 1758
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Turdidae
- Genus
- Turdus
Range and habitat
Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests, subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, subtropical or tropical moist montane forests, and heavily degraded former forest. This species may be considered the Caribbean counterpart of the American robin, as it has similar habits, including being a common visitor to gardens and lawns.
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Maguari Stork
Ciconia maguari
Unmistakable species given its size, very long bill, and red legs. Its black flight feathers and tail contrast with its largely white body, resembling European White Stork. Note the bare red face and piercing yellow eyes. Mostly found in open wetland areas including swamps, pastures, rice fields, and mudflats.
Yucatan Flycatcher
Myiarchus yucatanensis
Medium-size Myiarchus flycatcher of tropical woodland and edge in the Yucatan Peninsula. Found mainly at mid-upper levels in trees, and like all members of the genus feeds at fruiting trees, especially the widespread gumbo limbo. Very similar to local populations of Dusky-capped Flycatcher, with dull pale wingbars and limited rusty edging to the tail feathers. Best identified by voice. Most noticeable visual differences from Dusky-capped are a broad, paler grayish area around the eyes, and crisper and brighter whitish edging to the tertials.
Tufted Tit-Spinetail
Leptasthenura platensis
Small, charismatic species with a long spiky tail and a short crest. Has generally pale gray-brown plumage with a streaked throat and crest. Occurs in woodland, scrub, and gallery forests. Forages acrobatically from the understory up to the canopy. The song starts with sharp notes and ends with a very thin trill: “tsi, tsirrrrr.”
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