Rufous-backed Robin (Turdus rufopalliatus) is primarily a Mexican bird, closely related to the familiar American Robin. It is a rare vagrant along the southern U.S. border from Texas to Mexico, with most sightings coming from southern AZ from October to March. In almost 16 years in AZ I have seen them here in 11 years, and of these encounters 10 have been from the Boyce Thompson Arboretum where this was photographed on October 21, 2009 in the picnic area. Like most other sightings it was at a Chinese Pistachio tree loaded with fruit being visited by a variety of thrushes, thrashers, woodpeckers, and other birds.

This is a good year for the species in AZ with two others reported in the preceding week at locations south of Tucson.

Rufous-backed Robin 013A-720

Rufous-backed Robin 024B-720