A medium-sized brown thrush with spotted breast. Sings spiraling flute-like song. Migrates 8,000+ km between Canada and South America.

Also called: Olive-backed Thrush

Native status: Native to North America

§ Quick facts

SizeBody 15–28 cm (6–11 in); wingspan 25–40 cm
Weight20–95 g
LifespanWild 4–14 years
OrderPasseriformes
FamilyTurdidae

§ Encyclopedia

Swainson's thrush, also called olive-backed thrush, russet-backed thrush, and salmonberry bird is a medium-sized thrush. It is a member of genus Catharus and is typical of it in terms of its subdued coloration and beautiful, ascending flute-like voice. Swainson's thrush was named after William Swainson, an English ornithologist.

Source: Wikipedia — Swainson's thrush Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0

§ Identification

Field marks. Warm olive-brown above with a bold buffy eye ring and buffy cheeks ('spectacled' look) and a buff-washed, spotted breast.

Similar species. Gray-cheeked Thrush lacks the buffy spectacles; Hermit Thrush has a rusty tail; Veery is more uniformly cinnamon with faint spots.

Voice. A rising, spiraling series of flute-like phrases that ascend in pitch; call a liquid 'whit' or (night flight) a spring-peeper-like 'queep'.

§ Diet & behavior

Diet. Insects, worms, fruits.

Behavior. A common but retiring forest thrush and nocturnal migrant; its upward-spiraling song rises through northern and montane woods at dusk.

§ Range

Boreal Canada in summer; winters in South America

§ Habitat

Boreal coniferous and mixed forests

§ Threats

Boreal forest loss, climate change.

§ Conservation status

According to the IUCN Red List, the swainson's thrush is currently classified as Least Concern.

§ What helps

Support boreal forest conservation.

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§ Further reading

§ Sources cited

  • Cornell Lab of Ornithology — All About Birds
  • National Audubon Society
  • iNaturalist
  • IUCN Red List