Birds of Peru

    PASSERIFORMES: Turdidae (Thrushes)  
Genus: Turdus (16 species, 87 worldwide)

Genus Turdus, typical thrushes, includes medium to large species found worldwide including the American Robin and European (Common) Blackbird. Turdus thrushes have a consistent shape, and generally stay close to the ground looking for worms and other insects.


White-necked Thrush
White-necked Thrush (Turdus albicollis spodiolaemus)
Wildsumaco Lodge, Sumaco, Ecuador  
   
Photograph by Tom Friedel   © All Rights Reserved.

Heard more often than seen in mature tropical forests.

Creamy-bellied Thrush
Creamy-bellied Thrush (Turdus amaurochalinus)
Ituzaingó, Argentina  
   
Photograph by Tom Friedel   © All Rights Reserved.

Note light yellow bill and same color head as wings compared to Pale-breasted Thrush.

Chiguanco Thrush
Chiguanco Thrush (Turdus chiguanco)
Arequipa, Peru  
   
Photograph by Tom Friedel   © All Rights Reserved.

Similar to some races of the Great Thrush, but smaller.

Chestnut-bellied Thrush
Chestnut-bellied Thrush (Turdus fulviventris)
Huila, Colombia  
   
Photograph by Tom Friedel   © All Rights Reserved.


Great Thrush
Great Thrush (Turdus fuscater ockendeni) Male
Manu National Park, Peru
  The darkest race of the Great Thrush is found only in southeast Peru around Cuzco.
   
Photograph by Tom Friedel   © All Rights Reserved.

Great Thrush
Great Thrush (Turdus fuscater quindio) Male
San Sebastian Reserve, Envigado, Antioquia, Colombia
  The male has an orange eye-ring.
   
Photograph by Tom Friedel   © All Rights Reserved.

A large pigeon-sized Thrush that is often very common. Colors range from creamy brown to dark grey-black across its large range.

Hauxwell's Thrush
Hauxwell's Thrush (Turdus hauxwelli)
Puerto Nariño, Amazonas, Colombia  
   
Photograph by Tom Friedel   © All Rights Reserved.

Found in 'terra firme' and varzea forests. Determined to be genetically very different from Varzea Thrush. Note dark olive-brown bill and song.


Black-billed Thrush
Black-billed Thrush (Turdus ignobilis debilis)
Mocoa, Putumayo, Colombia
  'Debilis' Amazon lowland race. Note white throat, vent and streaks on chest.
   
Photograph by Tom Friedel   © All Rights Reserved.

A large thrush that is found in lowlands, except for two races in the Colombian/Venezuelan Andes. In Colombia, the Andean race is common inside cities. The lowland race 'debilis' is a different species and called the Floodplain Thrush by HBW.
Black-billed Thrushes use a lot of mud in their nests.

Lawrence's Thrush
Lawrence's Thrush (Turdus lawrencii)
Sani Lodge, Ecuador  
   
Photograph by Tropical Birding (Nick Athanas)   © All Rights Reserved.

Known to mimic other birds and animals (Athanas).

Pale-breasted Thrush
Pale-breasted Thrush (Turdus leucomelas albiventer)
Rio Claro Canyon Reserve, Antioquia, Colombia  
   
Photograph by Tom Friedel   © All Rights Reserved.

Widespread. A generic thrush with an unusual jay-like call for a thrush.

Pale-eyed Thrush
Pale-eyed Thrush (Turdus leucops) Male
Pantiacolla Ridge, Madre de Dios, Peru  
   
Photograph by Graham Montgomery   © All Rights Reserved.

Pale-eyed Thrush
Pale-eyed Thrush (Turdus leucops) Female
ProAves Chestnut-capped Piha Reserve, Anorí, Antioquia, Colombia  
   
Photograph by Tom Friedel   © All Rights Reserved.

A very shy thrush found at over 1200m inside the forest. Flies to canopy with any sign of danger.

Ecuadorian Thrush
Ecuadorian Thrush (Turdus maculirostris)
Milpe Bird Sanctuary, Los Bancos, Ecuador  
   
Photograph by Tom Friedel   © All Rights Reserved.


Maranon Thrush
Maranon Thrush (Turdus maranonicus)
Marañon Valley, Peru  
   
Photograph by Bradley Hacker   © All Rights Reserved.


Andean Slaty Thrush
Andean Slaty Thrush (Turdus nigriceps)
Lagunas de Yala, Yala, Argentina  
   
Photograph by Tom Friedel   © All Rights Reserved.

Found in the Andes at mid altitude levels, often in the canopy. Female is plain and brown.

Plumbeous-backed Thrush
Plumbeous-backed Thrush (Turdus reevei)
Jorupe Reserve, Loja, Ecuador  
   
Photograph by Tropical Birding (Nick Athanas)   © All Rights Reserved.

A Tumbes endemic.

Varzea Thrush
Varzea Thrush (Turdus sanchezorum)
Puerto Nariño, Amazonas, Colombia  
   
Photograph by Tom Friedel   © All Rights Reserved.

Split from Hauxwell's Thrush. Found in varzea forest.
Nest with three eggs.

Glossy-black Thrush
Glossy-black Thrush (Turdus serranus fuscobrunneus)
Cali, Colombia  
   
Photograph by Tom Friedel   © All Rights Reserved.

May appear very similar to Great Thrush, but is smaller. Look also for the back and belly being exactly the same shade of dark glossy black.


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