General

Rufous-backed Robin: Large thrush with rufous back and gray head and rump, Throat is white with black streaks, and breast and sides are rufous-orange. Undertail coverts and belly are white. Bill is yellow with a black tip. Wings are rufous with gray primaries. Tail is gray. Female is duller. Juvenile has paler underparts spotted with dark brown, and brown rump and tail.

Range and Habitat

Rufous-backed Robin: Native of Mexico; casual but regular visitor to the southwest U.S., most often reported from southeast Arizona, but also in southern California and southwest Texas.

Breeding and Nesting

Rufous-backed Robin: Two to four white eggs with large red brown splotches are laid in a nest made of mud, rootlets, moss, and grass, lined with finer materials, and built in a tree or shrub. Incubation ranges from 12 to 14 days and is carried out by the female.

Foraging and Feeding

Rufous-backed Robin: Eats mainly fruits, but also takes insects and worms. Forages in treetops or on the ground, where it hops and runs.

Readily Eats

Raisins, Currants, Nut Meal

Vocalization

Rufous-backed Robin: Song is a weak, gurgling "cheerup-chere-chere-cheerup." Call is "chuk, chuk."

Similar Species

Rufous-backed Robin: American Robin has gray-brown back, rump, and wing coverts, broken white eye-ring, black or brown head, gray-brown tail with white tail corners, rufous-red underparts, and white throat with black stripes.