Swainson's Thrush
Swainson's ThrushSwainson's ThrushSwainson's ThrushSwainson's Thrush

Swainson's Thrush

Catharus ustulatus

Silhouette: Sharon Wegner-Larsen · PhyloPic

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible
at Banff National Park
1,849 Verified sightings at Banff National Park From 2019 to 2026
25,669 Verified sightings across all 94 parks From 2019 to 2026
June Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

About the Swainson's Thrush

Swainson's thrush (Catharus ustulatus), 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.

The genus name Catharus comes from the Ancient Greek katharos, "pure or clean" and refers to the plumage of the orange-billed nightingale-thrush C. aurantiirostris. The specific ustulatus is Latin for "burnt", from urere, "to burn".

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. These birds migrate to southern Mexico and as far south as Argentina. The coastal subspecies migrate down the Pacific coast of North America and winter from Mexico to Costa Rica, whereas the continental birds migrate eastwards within North America (a substantial detour) and then travel southwards via Florida to winter from Panama to Bolivia. Swainson... Wikipedia →

Closest Relatives at Banff National Park

Hermit Thrush
LC

Hermit Thrush

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Catharus guttatus

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
Veery
LC

Veery

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Catharus fuscescens

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
American Robin
LC

American Robin

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Turdus migratorius

Daily sighting probability ~70% · Very likely
Varied Thrush
LC

Varied Thrush

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Ixoreus naevius

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible
Townsend's Solitaire
LC

Townsend's Solitaire

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Myadestes townsendi

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
Mountain Bluebird
LC

Mountain Bluebird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Sialia currucoides

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Western Bluebird
LC

Western Bluebird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Sialia mexicana

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data
Common Raven
LC

Common Raven

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Corvus corax

Daily sighting probability ~70% · Very likely
Dark-eyed Junco
LC

Dark-eyed Junco

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Junco hyemalis

Daily sighting probability ~70% · Very likely
Yellow-rumped Warbler
LC

Yellow-rumped Warbler

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Setophaga coronata

Daily sighting probability ~60% · Likely
Mountain Chickadee
LC

Mountain Chickadee

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Poecile gambeli

Daily sighting probability ~60% · Likely
Pine Siskin
LC

Pine Siskin

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Spinus pinus

Daily sighting probability ~60% · Likely

Global Distribution

Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 Gros Morne National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
~50%
2 El Triunfo 🇲🇽 Mexico
~40%
3 Isle Royale National Park 🇺🇸 United States
~30%
4 Wrangell-St. Elias National Park 🇺🇸 United States
~30%
5 Point Pelee National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
~30%
6 Madidi National Park 🇧🇴 Bolivia
~20%
7 Wood Buffalo National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
~20%
8 Tikal National Park 🇬🇹 Guatemala
~20%
9 La Tigra National Park 🇭🇳 Honduras
~20%
10 Rincón de la Vieja National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~20%
11 Bastimentos Island National Marine Park 🇵🇦 Panama
~20%
12 Santa Rosa National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~20%
13 Denali National Park 🇺🇸 United States
~20%
14 La Amistad International Park (Panama) 🇵🇦 Panama
~20%
15 Farallones de Cali National Natural Park 🇨🇴 Colombia
~20%
16 Podocarpus National Park 🇪🇨 Ecuador
~10%
17 Celaque National Park 🇭🇳 Honduras
~10%
18 Montes Azules Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
~10%
19 Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~10%
20 Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~10%
21 Chirripó National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~10%
22 San Lorenzo Protected Forest 🇵🇦 Panama
~10%
23 Tenorio Volcano National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~10%
24 Cahuita National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~10%
25 Puracé National Natural Park 🇨🇴 Colombia
~10%
26 Cape Breton Highlands National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
~10%
27 Biotopo Cerro Cahuí 🇬🇹 Guatemala
~10%
28 Chagres National Park 🇵🇦 Panama
~10%
29 Kenai Fjords National Park 🇺🇸 United States
~10%
30 Calakmul Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
~10%
31 Pico Bonito National Park 🇭🇳 Honduras
~10%
32 Cordillera Azul National Park 🇵🇪 Peru
~10%
33 Darién National Park 🇵🇦 Panama
~10%
34 Soberanía National Park 🇵🇦 Panama
~10%
35 Arenal Volcano National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~10%
36 Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary 🇧🇿 Belize
~10%
37 Braulio Carrillo National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~10%
38 Tapantí-Macizo de la Muerte National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~10%
39 Parque Natural Metropolitano 🇵🇦 Panama
~10%
40 Volcán Barú National Park 🇵🇦 Panama
~10%
41 Tortuguero National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~10%
42 Sierra de la Macarena National Park 🇨🇴 Colombia
~10%
43 Los Quetzales National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~10%
44 Carara National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~10%
45 Piedras Blancas National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~10%
46 Cañón del Sumidero National Park 🇲🇽 Mexico
~10%
47 Corcovado National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~10%
48 Acadia National Park 🇺🇸 United States
~10%
49 Chingaza National Natural Park 🇨🇴 Colombia
~10%
50 Katmai National Park 🇺🇸 United States
~10%
51 Manu National Park 🇵🇪 Peru
~10%
52 Arrecifes de Cozumel National Park 🇲🇽 Mexico
<5%
53 Los Nevados National Natural Park 🇨🇴 Colombia
<5%
54 Cusuco National Park 🇭🇳 Honduras
<5%
55 Celestún Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
<5%
56 Manuel Antonio National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
57 Cerro Azul Meámbar National Park 🇭🇳 Honduras
<5%
58 Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
<5%
59 Marino Ballena National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
60 Irazú Volcano National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
61 Tambopata National Reserve 🇵🇪 Peru
<5%
62 Shenandoah National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
63 Congaree National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
64 Amboró National Park 🇧🇴 Bolivia
<5%
65 Palo Verde National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
66 Tayrona National Natural Park 🇨🇴 Colombia
<5%
67 Yasuní National Park 🇪🇨 Ecuador
<5%
68 Cajas National Park 🇪🇨 Ecuador
<5%
69 Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve 🇪🇨 Ecuador
<5%
70 Machalilla National Park 🇪🇨 Ecuador
<5%
71 Cabo Blanco Absolute Nature Reserve 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
72 Lago de Yojoa 🇭🇳 Honduras
<5%
73 Masaya Volcano National Park 🇳🇮 Nicaragua
<5%
74 Las Baulas Marine National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
75 Ciénaga de Zapata 🇨🇺 Cuba
<5%
76 Chapada dos Guimarães National Park 🇧🇷 Brazil
<5%
77 Everglades National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
78 Yosemite National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
79 Big Cypress National Preserve 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
80 Joshua Tree National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
81 Saguaro National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
82 Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
Insufficient data
83 Utría National Natural Park 🇨🇴 Colombia
Insufficient data
84 Isla del Coco National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data
85 Coiba National Park 🇵🇦 Panama
Insufficient data
86 Canaima National Park 🇻🇪 Venezuela
Insufficient data
87 Poás Volcano National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data
88 Cabo Pulmo National Park 🇲🇽 Mexico
Insufficient data
89 Henri Pittier National Park 🇻🇪 Venezuela
Insufficient data
90 Reserva de la Biosfera Mariposa Monarca 🇲🇽 Mexico
Insufficient data
91 Amacayacu National Natural Park 🇨🇴 Colombia
Insufficient data
92 Ostional Wildlife Refuge 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data
93 El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
Insufficient data
94 Lauca National Park 🇨🇱 Chile
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Swainson's Thrush in Banff National Park?

About 30% of wildlife watchers report a Swainson's Thrush sighting in Banff National Park, based on 1,849 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Swainson's Thrush in Banff National Park?

June has the highest sighting rate for Swainson's Thrush in Banff National Park in our monthly data.

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