Photo: Amado Demesa from DF, México / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Brown-backed Solitaire
Myadestes occidentalis
Brown-backed Solitaire (Myadestes occidentalis) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Central America & Caribbean.
Found across 6 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Brown-backed Solitaire (Myadestes occidentalis) is a member of the Turdidae family found in Central America & Caribbean. Adults weigh 36.4 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Turdidae Thrushes
- Genus Myadestes
- Species occidentalis
Quick facts
- Weight
- 36.4 g
- Diet
- Fruit-eaters
- Family
- Turdidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Vulnerable
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Brown-backed Solitaire is a frugivore — it feeds mainly on fruit.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Brown-backed Solitaire is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Brown-backed Solitaire (Myadestes occidentalis) is a species of bird in the Turdidae family, part of the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across Central America & Caribbean. Its distribution covers MA nw Mexico to Honduras.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 36.4 g, with a wing length of about 10.3 cm and a tail of around 10.1 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 529,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Brown-backed Solitaire?
The Brown-backed Solitaire is a small bird that weighs around 36.4 g.
Where does the Brown-backed Solitaire live?
The Brown-backed Solitaire is found across Central America & Caribbean with a range covering MA nw Mexico to Honduras, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Brown-backed Solitaire belong to?
The Brown-backed Solitaire (Myadestes occidentalis) belongs to the Turdidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Brown-backed Solitaire eat?
The Brown-backed Solitaire is a frugivore — it feeds mainly on fruit.
Does the Brown-backed Solitaire migrate?
The Brown-backed Solitaire is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Brown-backed Solitaire endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Brown-backed Solitaire make?
1 real field recording of the Brown-backed Solitaire — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Brown-backed Solitaire's range?
The Brown-backed Solitaire has a mapped global range of about 529,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
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