Veery
Catharus fuscescens
The Veery can sing two different notes at the same time using its split vocal organ, creating a unique, haunting harmonic chord.
- Scientific name
- Catharus fuscescens
- Taxonomy
- Animalia › Chordata › Aves › Passeriformes › Turdidae › Catharus
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- decreasing
- Biome
- forest
- Habitat
- Moist deciduous forests with a dense, shrubby understory, often near streams or wetlands.
- Diet
- Omnivorous; primarily forages for insects and spiders on the forest floor, supplemented by berries in late summer.
- Range
- North America, South America
- Size
- 16-19 cm long with a 28-33 cm wingspan
- Lifespan
- 8-10 years
- Active
- diurnal
- Threats
- Habitat loss and fragmentation, window strikes during migration, and predation by domestic cats.
- Safe to approach?
- Harmless and shy. This bird nests on or near the ground; maintain a respectful distance to avoid distressing the parents or trampling the nest. No risk of injury to humans.
The veery ( Catharus fuscescens ) is a small North American thrush species, a member of a group of closely related and similar species in the genus Catharus , also including the gray-cheeked thrush ( C. minimus ), Bicknell's thrush ( C. bicknelli ), Swainson's thrush ( C. ustulatus ), and Hermit thrush ( C. guttatus ). Alternate names for this species include Wilson's thrush (named so after Alexander Wilson) and tawny thrush . Up to six subspecies exist, which are grouped into the eastern Veery ( C. fuscescens...
Photo: Blake Ross, CC-BY, via iNaturalist
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