Bare-Eyed Thrush (Turdis Nudigenis)

Big Eye Grieve or Bare-eyed thrush [turdus nudigenus] (6)

The identification of this bird is rather straightforward because of their distinctive eye ring - lending them names such as "Gold-eye thrush", "Big-Eye Grive". This tenacious bird is less wary than others, and is easy to approach. They are regular visitors to the feeders, dining on bananas and papayas voraciously. They are brown with a brownish streaked throat leading to greyish underparts.

When they are chasing other birds from a food source, they make a clacking noise which seems to come from their throat, and sounds a lot like a beak opening and closing quickly. Authors in books have noted that they make the call keer-lee when alarmed; I've noted that they make this noise when summoning others in general which may mean that this sound is simply a call to others - and that when there is danger or when they need assistance of some sort. When the Great Kiskedee or Tropical Mockingbirds are on the feeder, these birds are one of the few who can move them away by threat rather than diversion - but they rarely, if ever, threaten other birds of the same size or greater when alone (they have no problems bullying the tanagers alone). Thus I hear the call often throughout the day when there is no actual threat to them, but when they need assistance in dealing with a mockingbird or kiskedee.

These are one of the few birds which seem to drink water when it drips, and unlike many other birds at the feeder, they will stay in the rain and feed. They do feed on insects as well, but would apparently rather eat fruit.

Wikipedia reference: Bare-eyed Thrush
More of My Pictures: here.
Other Pictures: here.


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