Cocoa thrush facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cocoa thrush |
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Turdus
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fumigatus
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The cocoa thrush (scientific name: Turdus fumigatus) is a type of bird called a thrush. It lives all year round in parts of South America. You can find it from eastern Colombia all the way to central and eastern Brazil. It also lives on the Caribbean island of Trinidad and some smaller islands nearby, called the Lesser Antilles.
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Meet the Cocoa Thrush
The cocoa thrush is a medium-sized bird, usually about 22 to 24 centimeters (around 9 inches) long. It has a pretty dark reddish-brown color on its back. Its belly is a lighter reddish-brown. There are a few slightly different types of cocoa thrushes, mostly varying in how bright their feathers are.
Both male and female cocoa thrushes look very similar. Young birds, however, are not as brightly colored. They often have a wavy pattern on their undersides, which is common for young thrushes. The song of the cocoa thrush is a lovely, musical warble. They also make typical thrush sounds like "chuck" and "chak."
Where Do Cocoa Thrushes Live?
Cocoa thrushes love to live in thick forests. They build their nests low in trees or tree ferns. The nest is a big cup made of twigs, lined with softer materials.
Their Home in South America
In South America, you can find cocoa thrushes in many places. They live in the Amazon Basin, which is a huge rainforest area. They are also found in the Guianas and the Guiana Shield region.
There's a group of these birds living along the southeast coast of Brazil. This narrow area stretches for about 2,300 kilometers (about 1,400 miles). Another group lives in northeast Colombia and southwest Venezuela. This area includes parts of the Orinoco River and Rio Negro river systems. The thrush's home also reaches the coast in northern Venezuela.
Nesting and Young Birds
Female cocoa thrushes lay two to three eggs. These eggs are greenish-blue with reddish spots. The female bird sits on the eggs for about 13 days until they hatch. After hatching, the young birds stay in the nest for another 13 to 15 days before they are ready to fly.
What Do Cocoa Thrushes Eat?
Cocoa thrushes mostly look for food on or near the ground. They love to eat insects, especially ants and their tiny young. They also enjoy munching on earthworms and other small creatures without backbones, called invertebrates. Besides insects, they eat some fruits and berries.
These birds are usually quite shy. However, on the island of Trinidad, they are much tamer. There, you might even see them visiting bird feeders in people's gardens!
