North American field guide
Clay-colored Thrush
Turdus grayi
Also known as:Clay-colored Robin
Identification
Field notes
23 cm (9") Rare. South Texas. In much of its range it is familiar in yards and gardens.
Resembles the American Robin. The plumage is brownish, somewhat lighter below than above, lightest on the sides. The throat is faintly streaked. The bill is greenish-yellow with a dark base, the legs are pinkish or flesh-colored, and the irises are reddish. No white around eye like in American Robin.
Immature: mottling on the back and underparts.
It was known as the Clay-colored Robin.
Song: similar to American Robin's, "meeoo" call.
Details in the field
Photo gallery
Watch and learn
Videos
Clay-colored Thrush - Turdus grayi - Uraba, Caribbean Lowlands
Credit: COLOMBIA BirdingClay-colored Thrush Bentsen park 2010-10-23
Credit: TavoBird Advisor Identification rules 1 variant · 2 rules
These are the observation paths the Bird Advisor can use to identify this species. Each rule is an alternative match.
Clay-Colored Robin
2 rulesRule 1 14 criteria · confidence 1
- Did the WINGS have STRIPES or PATCHES ?
- No · Unknown
- What colour were the WINGS ?
- Olive (yellowish-green) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
- What colour was the BACK ?
- Olive (yellowish-green) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
- What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ?
- Uniform color · Unknown
- What colour was the BREAST ?
- Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
- What colour was the THROAT ?
- White, or pale (grayish-white) · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Olive (yellowish-green) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
- What colour was the BILL ?
- Olive (yellowish-green) · Green · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
- What SHAPE was the BILL ?
- Straight and slender · Straight and thick · Unknown
- What LENGTH was the BILL ?
- Short · Medium · Long · Unknown
- What FACIAL or HEAD features were noted if any ?
- Light area between the bill and the eye · Light area running up the side of the neck or head · Sideburn stripe running down beneath the eye · Dark area behind, under, through or around the eye · Ear "tufts" or horns · NONE of the above or a PLAIN unmarked FACE · Unknown
- What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?
- Olive (yellowish-green) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
- How BIG was the bird ?
- Robin-sized
- What TYPE of bird was seen ?
- Songbird (ground or perching bird)
- WHERE was the bird seen ?
- Southwestern United States
Rule 2 6 criteria · confidence 1
- Was the bird seen best or only on the ground ?
- Yes
- How BIG was the bird ?
- Sparrow-sized · Robin-sized
- List any unique feeding behaviour observed ?
- Turning over leaves · Running and stopping
- What TYPE of bird was seen ?
- Identify from a Unique Behaviour
- What type of environment was the bird seen in?
- Urban or residential area or at a feeder · Open area: field, prairie, meadow, farmland, tundra · Thickets or shrubs · Deciduous forest · Coniferous forest · Mixed forest · Wooded freshwater habitat · Freshwater marsh or wetland
- WHERE was the bird seen ?
- Southwestern United States