Clay-colored Robin

Overview

Clay-colored Robin: Large thrush with olive-brown upperparts, buff throat has faint brown streaks, and pale brown underparts. Bill is yellow-green and black-tipped. The legs and feet are gray-black. Direct, swift flight on rapidly beating wings. It is the national bird of Costa Rica.

Range and Habitat

Clay-colored Robin: Resident from eastern Mexico to Columbia; occurs casually in lower Rio Grande Valley in Texas. Inhabits open or semi-open areas; also forest edges, gardens, suburban lots.

INTERESTING FACTS

In Panama, this species elects to breed in the dry season, despite limited food availability, presumably because the danger from predation is less.
It will follow army ants to feed on small prey disturbed by the ant columns.
With their springtime songs, Clay-colored Robins are said to call in the rains at the start of Costa Rica's rainy season which begins in May.
A group of robins are collectively known as a "worm" of robins.

The Clay-colored Robin, now called the Clay-colored Thrush, is the national bird of Costa Rica. This species' range spans from southern Texas to northern Columbia, and is found along the Atlantic slope between these two areas. They are very common in urban areas, including yards and gardens. The Clay-colored Robin forages for its food including fruit and small invertebrates. They will sometimes follow army ants to eat animals disturbing their ant hills. This species will also frequently build its nests in human habitats, such as man-made buildings or homes. Currently, the conservation rating for the Clay-colored Robin is Least Concern.