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
Double-toothed Kite
Harpagus bidentatus
Small hawk of tropical forests, mainly in the lowlands, that overall looks a lot like a loosely built Sharp-shinned Hawk. Most frequently seen soaring in mid-late morning, singly or in pairs, with wings bowed down, tail closed, and puffy white feathering visible under the base of the tail—a distinctive combination of features. Rarely seen perched, but can be very tame. When perched, note 3 narrow white tail bands and a black stripe down the center of the throat. The cutting edge of the bill has a double notch (hence the name double-toothed) that is rarely visible.
Mottled Duck
Anas fulvigula
Dark-bodied with a creamy face. About the same size as Mallard. Overall color is darker than female Mallards and paler than American Black Duck. White bars in wing are very narrow, and may not be noticeable. Males have bright yellow bill, females have duller olive bill. Inhabits wetlands of Florida and coastal areas from Louisiana to Mexico.
Ocellated Tapaculo
Acropternis orthonyx
The antithesis of a typical tapaculo, Ocellated is large and spectacular. The body is mostly black and covered with bright white spots. The face and rump are bright rufous. Look for the daggerlike hindclaws, which are used to scrape the ground in search of insects. Sexes alike. This chunky bird is quite shy, staying on or near the ground among thick understory and bamboo thickets in montane forest from 2,300–3,500 m. Not usually seen without considerable effort. Listen for its loud descending whistle, “wheeeu.”
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