Thrushes and allies | Turdidae

Lijsters | Zorzales y mirlos

Regardless of the adult pattern, the young of nearly every species in this family show a densely spotted breast, a pattern that fades in some adults and persists in others, such as the true thrushes. The song is melodious and flute-like, with a wide tonal range produced by a syrinx with two independently controlled sound sources, letting some species produce two notes at once. Ground foraging follows a distinctive run-stop-look-or-listen sequence, ending in a quick jab at a worm or insect just below the surface; outside the breeding season the diet shifts increasingly toward fruit. Nests range from a mud-plastered cup to a simple lining inside a tree cavity, and in many North American species migration takes place at night, guided in part, it seems, by the stars.