Grey-throated chat
Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Family
Genus
SPECIES
Granatellus sallaei

The grey-throated chat (Granatellus sallaei ) is a species of bird in the family Cardinalidae, the cardinals or cardinal grosbeaks. It is found in Belize, Guatemala, and Mexico.

Appearance

The grey-throated chat is approximately 13 cm (5.1 in) long and weighs 8.8 to 11 g (0.31 to 0.39 oz). The adult nominate male's head, back, wings, and tail are gray but for a white supercilium behind the eye. The breast and vent area are rose-red, the flanks are gray, and the rest of the underparts are white. The female's crown, nape, and upperparts are a duller gray than the male's. Its supercillium, face, breast, flanks, and vent area are buff; the throat and belly are white. The adult male G. s. boucardi is slightly paler gray than the nominate. The female is brownish gray above and a creamier buff on the face and underparts.

Distribution

Geography

Continents
Biogeographical realms

The nominate grey-throated chat is found in southern Veracruz, most of Tabasco, eastern Oaxaca, and northern Chiapas. G. s. boucardi occurs from the Yucatán Peninsula south to central Guatemala and Belize. The species is a bird of the lowlands. It inhabits dry to semi-humid forest, its edges, and adjacent dense scrub. It also occurs in thickets within evergreen forest but shuns humid forest.

Grey-throated chat habitat map
Grey-throated chat habitat map
Grey-throated chat
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Habits and Lifestyle

Lifestyle
Seasonal behavior
Bird's call

Diet and Nutrition

The grey-throated chat forages by gleaning on the ground and in low vegetation. It often follows army ant swarms. Its diet is insects and other arthropods.

Mating Habits

Pairs of grey-throated chats remain on their territory year round. The nest is a cup placed low in vegetation; the only nest found with eggs held two. No other information about its breeding phenology has been published.

Population

Population number

The IUCN has assessed the grey-throated chat as being of Least Concern. Though there are no population estimates, the species appears to be fairly common.

References

1. Grey-throated chat Wikipedia article - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grey-throated_chat
2. Grey-throated chat on The IUCN Red List site - https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22722065/136770682
3. Xeno-canto bird call - https://xeno-canto.org/433901

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