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Thrushes (Turdidae)

Grey-cheeked Thrush (Catharus minimus) - HBW 10, p. 702

French: Grive à joues grises German: Grauwangendrossel Spanish: Zorzalito Carigrís
Other common names: Small Thrush

Taxonomy: Turdus minimus Lafresnaye, 1848, Bogotá, Colombia.
Formerly placed in Hylocichla, along with C. fuscescens, C. bicknelli, C. ustulatus and C. guttatus. Until recently treated as conspecific with C. bicknelli; vocal, morphological and even biochemical differences very subtle, but seemingly parapatric breeding and probably discrete winter distributions suggest species-level separation just tenable; nonetheless, intermediates between the two taxa ­occur, and Newfoundland population of present species approaches C. bicknelli in size and coloration. Range of nominate debatable; race aliciae<.. View all taxonomy...

Taxonomy: Turdus minimus Lafresnaye, 1848, Bogotá, Colombia.
Formerly placed in Hylocichla, along with C. fuscescens, C. bicknelli, C. ustulatus and C. guttatus. Until recently treated as conspecific with C. bicknelli; vocal, morphological and even biochemical differences very subtle, but seemingly parapatric breeding and probably discrete winter distributions suggest species-level separation just tenable; nonetheless, intermediates between the two taxa ­occur, and Newfoundland population of present species approaches C. bicknelli in size and coloration. Range of nominate debatable; race aliciae only slightly different, and species sometimes treated as monotypic. Two subspecies currently recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution:

  • aliciae (S. F. Baird, 1858) - extreme NE Siberia, Alaska and Canada; non-breeding mainly N South America E of Andes.
  • minimus (Lafresnaye, 1848) - E Canada (Newfoundland, possibly also N Quebec); non-breeding N South America E of Andes.

Sounds

2 recordings
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