ID Keys: Rich rufous tail, brownish upperparts, whitish underparts with strong
pattern on breast
The
Rufous-tailed Robin is a bird of the Old World with a rather unsettled history,
but it is most often classified in the Thrush family. They normally breed
in northeastern Asia and winter in southeastern Asia. In North America,
they are known from a handful of confirmed sightings, including on St. Paul
Island in the Bering Sea, and in the far western Aleutians.
Habitat
Found in forested habitats, primarily in areas with well-developed forest undergrowth.
Diet
Primarily feeds on insects and spiders, but will also occasionally feed on small fruits and berries.
Behavior
Primarily forages low in vegetation or on the ground. Often flicks its tail while foraging.
Song
Insect like chirrrup
Migration
Highly migratory, breeding in areas of Northeast Asia, and primarily wintering in southeastern Asia.
Interactive eBird Map
Click here to access an interactive eBird map of Rufous-tailed Robin sightings
Similar Species
Compared to North American species, it is most similar in appearance to thrushes such as the Hermit Thrush or Veery.
Conservation Status
Populations are considered stable, they are common in parts of their range, and they are found over a relatively wide geographic area. The IUCN lists the Rufous-tailed Robin as a species of "Least Concern".
Photo Information
Photo taken by JJ Harrison - Photo licensed under Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 2.0 Generic License.
