Slate-colored Solitaire
Myadestes unicolor
The Slate-colored Solitaire (Myadestes unicolor) is a rare thrush found in 6 countries, weighing about 38 g. The slate-colored solitaire is a species of bird in the family Turdidae, the thrushes.









About the Slate-colored Solitaire
The slate-colored solitaire is a species of bird in the family Turdidae, the thrushes. It is found in Belize, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, and Nicaragua.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The brown-backed solitaire is 19 to 20.5 cm (7.5 to 8.1 in) long and weighs 30 to 44 g (1.1 to 1.6 oz). The sexes have the same plumage. Adults are mostly slaty gray that is slightly lighter on their underparts than above. They have a broken white eye-ring, blacker primary coverts, black flight feathers with buff edges, and whitish gray outer tail feathers. They have a dark bill and yellowish legs and feet. Juveniles have a buffish "moustache". Their upperparts have black-edged buff spots and their underparts have whitish buff centers on the feathers that give a scaly appearance. Voice: The slate-colored solitaire's "loud, distinctive voice" is a "ringing metallic phrase, repeated regularly with little variation". It is described in much more detail as ethereal and haunting that "often starts hesitantly with a few poor notes, then breaks into varied series of clear or quavering fluty whistles, carefully delivered but of great beauty, often including or ending with loose trill, e.
Where it lives
When to see it
The Slate-colored Solitaire can be seen all year round, with peak activity in May. It is a resident species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Slate-colored Solitaire?
- The brown-backed solitaire is 19 to 20.5 cm (7.5 to 8.1 in) long and weighs 30 to 44 g (1.1 to 1.6 oz). Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Slate-colored Solitaire?
- The Slate-colored Solitaire is a small sized bird weighing about 38 g.
- Where can you see a Slate-colored Solitaire?
- The Slate-colored Solitaire occurs in 6 countries, including Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Belize and El Salvador.
- What birds look similar to a Slate-colored Solitaire?
- The Slate-colored Solitaire is most easily confused with the Omao, the Rufous-throated Solitaire and the Cuban Solitaire.
- Is the Slate-colored Solitaire endangered?
- The Slate-colored Solitaire is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Slate-colored Solitaire for real
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