Brown-backed Solitaire
Myadestes occidentalis
Slender, long-tailed thrush of mountain and foothill forests. Best known for its amazing song, given year-round; thus, sadly, often kept as a cage bird. Usually seen singly, perched quietly and rather upright at low to high levels in forest, but small groups can gather at fruiting trees with other species. Song sometimes given in fluttering display flight high over an open area between trees or above the canopy. Note the broken white eyering, narrow black whisker, and rich brown back.
Taxonomy
Placed in the genus Myadestes, the brown-backed solitaire is closely related to other thrushes sharing the common name of "solitaire."
- Scientific name
- Myadestes occidentalis
- Authority
- Stejneger, 1882
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Turdidae
- Genus
- Myadestes
Range and habitat
It is relatively common in the mountains of Mexico and northern Central America. It tends to be found in semi-deciduous mountain forests, including mixed pine-oak forests. It is often found near streams.<p>In the American Birding Association Area, it is Code 5. One singing bird was found in Miller Canyon, in the Huachuca Mountains of southeastern Arizona, and documented by the youth birding Victor Emanuel Nature Tours' Camp Chiricahua in July 2009. This bird was the first accepted record of this species in the ABA area, notable since several other previous records had been rejected due to question of origin.<p>The bird was located, identified, and documented by Benjamin Van Doren, Philippa Tanford, James Warren, Fer Farias, Ted Stiritz, Erich Lehner, Benjamin Vizzachero, Ethan Gyllenhaal, Megan O'Brien, Brian Magnier, Vincent Pellegrino, and leaders Robert Day, Dave Jasper, and Rebekah McIntyre.[citation needed]<p>A heard-only bird in Morse Canyon, Chiricahuas, Arizona, was documented by John Yerger in May 2011, and is pending acceptance. A wildfire shut down the trail, and the bird was not refound.
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Dark-faced Ground-Tyrant
Muscisaxicola maclovianus
Small and rather distinctive terrestrial flycatcher, breeding in the southern Andes at high elevation and migrating north in winter where it can also be found in lowlands. Breeds in open rocky areas, sometimes down to level of open forest. Migrants often in flocks, sometimes a few hundred birds, as on playing fields and beaches. Upperparts relatively dark gray with blackish face mask, and an inconspicuous dark rusty nape patch. Resident Falkland population larger and plainer overall, likely a different species; found on moorland and beaches.
Bahia Antwren
Herpsilochmus pileatus
Small, long-tailed antwren. Males resemble many other antwrens, mostly gray with a black cap, a long white eyebrow, and a black eye-stripe. Females have a streaked crown and a buffy forehead and underparts. Inhabits the middle levels and canopy of coastal forest (restinga), where it forages singly or accompanying mixed-species flocks. Sings a series of 4-7 notes that accelerate gradually and then decelerate slightly at the end.
Black-backed Oriole
Icterus abeillei
Attractive orange-and-black oriole endemic to central Mexico, where it takes the place of Bullock’s Oriole (of western North America). Favors open woods, plantations, hedges with tall trees, and towns; migrants also occur in pine-oak forest in mountains. Feeds at all levels in trees and bushes, mixing readily with other orioles. Yellow-orange plumage of male distinct from purer orange of other orioles; also note the big white wing panel, black nape and cheeks, and black flanks. Female very similar to female Bullock’s Oriole but shows ghosting of male head pattern.
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