Swainson's Thrush
Catharus ustulatus
Uniform medium-brown above from head to tail. Distinctive pale, buffy eyering and face separates Swainson's from other thrushes. Spots are concentrated and clearly defined on upper breast, becoming smudgier towards belly. Breeds in the boreal forest. Migrates to South America for winter; very rare in the U.S. after October, unlike Hermit Thrush. Its song is flute-like, ascending spiral like Veery in reverse.
Identification
This species is 16–20 cm (6.3–7.9 in) in length. The wingspan averages at 30 cm (12 in) and the wing chord is 8.7–10.5 cm (3.4–4.1 in). The bill measures 1.5–1.9 cm (0.59–0.75 in) in length and the tarsus is 2.5 to 3.1 cm (0.98 to 1.22 in) long. This species' body mass can range from 23 to 45 g (0.81 to 1.59 oz). This thrush has the white-dark-white underwing pattern characteristic of Catharus thrushes. Adults are brown on the upperparts. The underparts are white with brown on the flanks; the breast is lighter brown with darker spots. They have pink legs and a light brown eye ring. Birds in the east are more olive-brown on the upperparts; western birds are more reddish brown. This bird's song is a hurried series of flute-like tones spiralling upwards.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Catharus ustulatus
- Authority
- (Nuttall, 1840)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Turdidae
- Genus
- Catharus
Range and habitat
The breeding habitat of Swainson's thrush is coniferous woods with dense undergrowth across Canada, Alaska, and the northern United States; also, deciduous wooded areas on the Pacific coast of North America.
- Breeding range
- NA : widespread
- Non-breeding range
- MA, SA
- Migration
- Complete migrants
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Pitt Island Shag
Phalacrocorax featherstoni
A small, slender gray shag, with a slender bill, yellow legs and feet, and small dark spots on its shoulder and wing feathers. Feeds, roosts, and breeds around rocky shorelines of the Chatham Islands. The Chatham Islands Shag and the Great Cormorant are the only two similar species with overlapping range, distinguished by the white upper wing patch on the Chatham Islands Shag and the much darker overall appearance and larger size of the Great Cormorant. The Pitt Island Shag is the only shag found on the Chatham islands to have yellow legs and feet.
Red-throated Thrush
Turdus ruficollis
This eastern counterpart of the Black-throated Thrush also breeds in montane areas and winters in lower-elevation areas on average. Males gray above and white below, with a brick-red throat and supercilium. Female paler, with more streaking on the breast and light suffusion of red on the face. Streaky and drab young birds can be difficult to distinguish from Black-throated; chestnut outer tail feathers and orange suffusion to the throat area indicate Red-throated. In areas of overlap, beware hybrids that may show features of both species. Pleasant song is simpler than that of Black-throated, and is composed of fluty whistles and trills. Calls include typical “chekchekchek” and high, thin “tseee.”
Horned Lark
Eremophila alpestris
Squat-looking bird with short legs and low-profile body. Adults are mostly sandy-brown with white belly, sometimes with blurry streaks on sides of breast. Look for bold head pattern, especially black mask and chest band. Throat color varies from yellow to white. Namesake horns on head are sometimes visible at close range. Juveniles can be confusing; they are messy-looking, grayish-brown with bold white spots and scallops on the upperparts. Note bill shape to help separate from sparrows or longspurs. Widespread in open habitats throughout the Northern Hemisphere. Typically seen in flocks, sometimes mixed in with other open-ground songbirds, running along the ground in open areas with little to no vegetation. Listen for lovely jumbled song, as well as variable high-pitched calls when flying over.
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