White-chinned Thrush Turdus aurantius Scientific name definitions

The White-chinned Thrush is a fairly common resident of Jamaica, and is a habitat generalist at most elevations, inhabiting primary and secondary forest, and forest edge and scrub.  The White-chinned Thush is mostly dark slaty-gray, with a small, white chin patch, a pale belly, red legs, and a red bill. Distinctive both standing and in flight is a white wing patch, created by white distal webs to the second and third from innermost greater secondary coverts. The distinctive, dimodal whistle call is given repeatedly, and this bird is brazen, spending ample time in the open, and foraging in fruiting trees and shrubs.

24–26·5 cm; 82 g. Plumage is glossy dark brownish-grey above , shading to mid-grey below  , palest on belly and flanks, with white wing patch, chin  , mid-belly  and vent tips; orange bill and legs. Sexes similar. Juvenile like adult but has reddish-brown crown to upper back, reddish-brown breast and flanks, white on chin absent or reduced.

Jamaica.

Slugs, snails, insects and their larvae (including moths), earthworms, berries, frogs, tree-toads, small mice, fledgling birds and lizards; lizards form substantial part of diet. Fruits (41% and 44% of diet in separate studies) include Nectandra antillana (Lauraceae), Bursera simaruba (Burseraceae), Bumelia salicifolia (Sapotaceae), Fagara martinicensis and F. elephantiasis (Rutaceae), Cupania glabra (Sapindaceae), Oreopanax capitatus (Araliaceae) and Dunalia arborescens (Solanaceae); also Cecropia peltata, and bitterwood, pimento, coffee and citrus seeds. Food given to nestlings includes masticated lizards and worms, small bugs, crickets. Forages mainly on ground amid leaf litter; once seen to search in cow dung.

Song  , given late Feb to Aug, a musical lullaby-like “turé-too-too”, repeated indefinitely, recalling that of T. migratorius but much richer in tone and more mournful. Calls include shrill whistling “p’liss, p’liss” and prolonged chicken-like clucking.

Mainly May–Jul, second brood extending into Aug. Nest a coarse untidy cup of leaves, fibrous roots, twigs and interwoven bits of bamboo and banana, lined with fine material, placed in shrub, tree (e.g. mango), bromeliad or base of palm frond; nest reused for second brood. Eggs  2–3, occasionally 4, dull whitish to pale greenish with reddish-brown blotches; incubation period 16 days; second brood starts 11 days after first brood fledges.