The speckled mourner is a species of bird in the family Tityridae. It is found in Mexico, in every Central American country except El Salvador, and in Colombia and Ecuador.
Region
Mesoamerica and northwestern South America (Chocó region)
Typical Environment
Occurs from southern Mexico through Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama, and south into western Colombia and northwestern Ecuador. Prefers mature and tall secondary humid lowland forests, especially in the interior and along quiet forest edges. Typically forages in the midstory to canopy and is rarely seen in open areas. Local presence can be highly patchy, with birds favoring extensive tracts of undisturbed forest.
Altitude Range
0–1200 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
A shy, canopy-skulking member of the Tityridae, the speckled mourner is more often heard than seen, giving soft, plaintive whistles deep in humid forests. It is patchily distributed and generally uncommon, relying on intact lowland rainforest. The species frequently joins mixed-species foraging flocks in the midstory and canopy, where it gleans insects from foliage.
San Francisco Reserve - Darien, Panama
Temperament
solitary and unobtrusive
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats through the understory and midstory
Social Behavior
Usually encountered singly or in pairs within dense forest. Often associates with mixed-species flocks while foraging high in the midstory or canopy. Nesting is thought to be solitary, with a cup-like nest placed off the ground in well-concealed vegetation.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Gives soft, mournful whistles and thin, descending notes that carry in still forest. Vocalizations are spaced and understated, helping it remain inconspicuous despite proximity.
Plumage
Rich rufous to cinnamon overall with fine speckling and mottling on the head, breast, and upperparts; underparts often lightly spotted or barred. Feathers appear soft and slightly fluffy, aiding a subdued, camouflaged look in dim forest light.
Diet
Primarily gleans insects and other arthropods from foliage and small branches, including beetles, orthopterans, and spiders. Will occasionally sally short distances to snatch prey in flight. Small berries or fruits may be taken opportunistically, especially when insect prey is less abundant.
Preferred Environment
Forages in the shaded midstory and lower canopy of humid lowland forest, often along quiet trails and inside forest edges. Frequently joins mixed-species flocks to exploit disturbed insects and shared vigilance.
