Swainson's Thrush
Catharus ustulatus
This bird performs incredible nocturnal migrations, often flying thousands of miles between boreal forests and South American tropics.
- Scientific name
- Catharus ustulatus
- Taxonomy
- Animalia › Chordata › Aves › Passeriformes › Turdidae › Catharus
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- decreasing
- Biome
- forest
- Habitat
- Coniferous forests, willow thickets, and dense riparian woodlands.
- Diet
- Insects such as beetles and caterpillars during breeding; berries and fruit during migration.
- Range
- North America, Central America, South America
- Size
- 16-20 cm in length, 23-45 g weight
- Lifespan
- 10-12 years
- Active
- diurnal
- Threats
- Habitat fragmentation, window collisions during migration, and climate-driven shifts in insect availability.
- Safe to approach?
- Harmless and shy. Observe quietly from a distance using binoculars to avoid causing stress, especially during nesting. If you find an injured bird, contact a local wildlife rehabilitator.
Swainson's thrush ( Catharus ustulatus ), also called olive-backed thrush , is a medium-sized thrush. It is a member of Catharus genus and is typical of it in terms of its subdued coloration and beautiful voice. Swainson's thrush was named after William Swainson, an English ornithologist.
Photo: Alejandro Bayer Tamayo, CC-BY-SA, via iNaturalist
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