General

Clay-colored Robin: Large thrush with olive-brown upperparts, brown-streaked buff throat, and pale brown underparts. Bill is yellow-green and black-tipped. Sexes are similar. Juvenile has light spots on upperwing coverts.

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.

Breeding and Nesting

Clay-colored Robin: Two to four pale blue eggs dotted with brown, gray, and red are laid in a cup nest made of mud, grass, and twigs, and built low in a tree or shrub. Incubation ranges from 12 to 14 days and is carried out by the female.

Foraging and Feeding

Clay-colored Robin: Eats insects, caterpillars, and some berries and fruits; occasionally takes snails, small amphibians, and reptiles. Hops and runs on the ground while foraging, pushing litter aside with its bill; also gleans food from branches and foliage low in trees.

Readily Eats

Raisins, Currants, Nut Meal

Vocalization

Clay-colored Robin: Song is a slow, long, caroling of various musical phrases such as "cheerily-cheer-up-cheerio." Calls include a throaty "tock", a slurred "reeur-ee", and a clucking note.

Similar Species

Clay-colored Robin: American Robin has red-brown breast, white belly, gray-brown upperparts, white throat, and yellow bill.