Thrushes (Turdidae)

Slaty-backed Nightingale-thrush (Catharus fuscater) - HBW 10, p. 700

French: Grive ardoisée German: Graurücken-Musendrossel Spanish: Zorzalito Sombrío
Other common names: Black-backed Nightingale-thrush (hellmayri)

Taxonomy: M.(yioturdus) fuscater Lafresnaye, 1845, Bogotá, Colombia.
Proposed taxon fumosus apparently based on hybrid between present species and C. mexicanus. Racial affiliation of population recently discovered in C Andes of Colombia not determined. Seven subspecies recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution:

  • hellmayri Berlepsch, 1902 - Costa Rica and W Panama.
  • mirabilis Nelson, 1912 - E Panama.
  • fuscater (Lafresnaye, 1845) - E Panama (E Darién), Colombia S to W Ecuador, and W Venezuela.

     See all 7 subspecies
  • hellmayri Berlepsch, 1902 - Costa Rica and W Panama.
  • mirabilis Nelson, 1912 - E Panama.
  • fuscater (Lafresnaye, 1845) - E Panama (E Darién), Colombia S to W Ecuador, and W Venezuela.
  • sanctaemartae Ridgway, 1904 - Santa Marta Mts, in N Colombia.
  • opertaneus Wetmore, 1955 - W Colombia (N part of W Andes).
  • caniceps Chapman, 1924 - NW & C Peru, probably also SW Ecuador.
  • mentalis P. L. Sclater & Salvin, 1876 - SE Peru and NW Bolivia.