Credit: Pablo Leautaud
North American field guide
Rufous-backed Robin
Turdus rufopalliatus
Also known as:Rufous-backed Thrush
Explore this bird
Identification
Field notes
24 cm (9") Rare. Southern Arizona, southern Texas, southern California. Strays from Mexico.
Told from American Robin by reddish-brown on back and wing coverts, lack of any white around eye, gray head and more striping on throat extending to upper breast.
Details in the field
Photo gallery
Credit: Pablo Leautaud
Watch and learn
Videos
Rufous-backed Robin at Patagonia Lake State Park-SEAZ-01/04/11
Credit: rixandzaxRufous-backed Robin at Anthem (AZ) Community Park-01/02/12
Credit: rixandzaxBird 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.
Rufous-Backed Robin
2 rulesRule 1 12 criteria · confidence 1
- What colour were the WINGS ?
- Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
- What colour was the BACK ?
- Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
- What colour was the BREAST ?
- Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
- What colour was the THROAT ?
- White, or pale (grayish-white) · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
- What colour was the BILL ?
- White, or pale (grayish-white) · Yellow · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Red, or pink · 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 ?
- Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · 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