Bird Gallery Index

Swainson's Thrush image © Alan Murphy

Family: (Turdidae) Thrushes

Preferred Habitat: Moist woodlands

Seasonal Occurrence: Common in spring; uncommon in fall.

Notes: Distinguished from other migrant thrushes by buffy eye-ring. Back is usually soft olive-brown with prominent dark spots on breast. Males and females look alike. Swainson's Thrushes are the most common of the migrant thrushes (including Gray-cheeked, Veery and Catbird) to be found in our area. The song is a series of flute-like, ascending spiraling notes. Swainson's Thrushes are usually found close to the ground; they prefer to rest and forage in shady thickets.
- Susan Billetdeaux