The Rufous-backed Robin is a rare visitor to Arizona, most often recorded in the southern parts of the state, especially in riparian woodlands and suburban areas near Tucson and Nogales. Native to western Mexico, this thrush occasionally wanders north across the border, where it attracts considerable attention from birders. It is larger than the American Robin (Turdus migratorius), with a distinctive rufous back and flanks contrasting with a grayish head and white underparts. Records in Arizona are sporadic, usually during fall and winter, and the species is considered a casual but regular vagrant.
