FAMILY TURD1DAE 



141 



Resident. Found in the Subtropical Zone in the mountains of Chiri- 

 qui, where it is recorded from Cerro Picacho, on the main volcano from 

 near Cerro Punta on the western side, and from above Boquete on the 

 east; reported by Griscom from Cerro Flores in eastern Chiriqui. 

 Ridgely reports it down to 1000 m in central Chiriqui (Fortuna Dam 

 site). Found also on the Caribbean slope, where it was taken by Ken- 

 nard at about 1400 m on the Boquete Trail. The species occurs from 

 southern Mexico to western Panama; the nominate race in the moun- 

 tains of Costa Rica and Panama. 



Griscom's report of this species from the mountains of Veraguas 

 (Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool., vol. 78, 1935, p. 361) appears to be in error, 

 as the bird is not known to range eastward beyond the limits given 

 above. 



This is a species of the mountain forests, common where found, but 

 of restricted range in Panama. I have seen individuals frequently about 

 feeding trees, where they often descend to the ground to pick up fallen 

 berries in addition to those taken among the branches. They decoy 

 readily at a faint squeak, and come near to remain completely motion- 

 less, sometimes on open limbs, and sometimes under cover of leaves. 

 Occasionally, I have noted them on high perches in dead trees in clear- 

 ings. They are usually in small flocks of as many as 15 or 20. 



The cacking or clucking call note is much like that of the North 

 American Robin (Turdus migratorius) . Kennard and Peters (Proc. 

 Boston Soc. Nat. Hist., vol. 38, 1928, p. 460) record the song as more 

 musical than that of the northern bird, but Ridgely ( 1976, p. 275) calls 

 the song "inferior to that of its allies, being faster, more repititious and 

 monotonous, with few pitch changes." In addition to the cacking and 

 kicking calls, they give a whining call resembling that of the Clay- 

 colored Robin, but more musical and more mournful, like ooooooreee, 

 lasting about \y 2 seconds, then repeated after an interval of 4-5 

 seconds. 



Skutch (Publ. Nuttall Orn. Club, no. 7, 1967, p. 112) found a cup- 

 shaped nest hidden among dead leaves and other debris in the crotch 

 of a tree, elevated 3 m above the ground. In it were 2 young with 

 feathers sprouting. Later, when grown, "the plumage closely resem- 

 bled that of [the] parents, except for some rather inconspicuous buffy 

 spots or bars on its breast and wing coverts." No description of the 

 eggs has been seen. 



For the date of Cabanis's description of this thrush, see statement at 

 the end of the account of Turdus nigrescens. 



