This robin-like species is recognized by its bold pattern and eerie song. In flight, shows bold orange wing stripe. Male: Dark blue-gray above, with an orange supercillium and an intricate pattern of orange on the wings. Underparts are pumpkin orange, with a blackish band across the breast and dark scalloping on the flanks. Female: Shows a similar pattern to male, but paler gray-brown above, paler orange below with faint gray breast band. Juvenile similar to adult female, but with gray scalloping across entire breast.

Length: 19 (cm) Wingspan: 36 (cm)

Voice:

Song is a slow series of long multiphonic whistles with long pauses between. Each whistle is on a different pitch. Can be imitated by humming and whistling simultaneously.

Habitat:

Nests in mature wet coastal and montane forests. Winters at lower elevations and in more open habitat.

Behavior:

Usually fairly shy and hard to approach. Forms loose flocks at winter food sources. Often appears in residential areas during periods of cold weather and heavy snow cover, and then disappears when milder weather returns.

Feeding:

Forages on or close to the ground for invertebrates, fruit, nuts. Often found around apple trees/orchards during winter months.