Swainson's Thrush
Catharus ustulatus
Silhouette: Sharon Wegner-Larsen · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAves (Birds)
- OrderPasseriformes (Perching Birds)
- FamilyTurdidae (Thrushes)
- GenusCatharus (Brown Thrushes and Nightingale-Thrushes)
- SpeciesCatharus ustulatus (Swainson's Thrush)
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 Chagres National Park
Gray-cheeked Thrush
Catharus minimus
Veery
Catharus fuscescens
Clay-colored Thrush
Turdus grayi
Pale-vented Thrush
Turdus obsoletus
Wood Thrush
Hylocichla mustelina
Crimson-backed Tanager
Ramphocelus dimidiatus
Blue-gray Tanager
Thraupis episcopus
Golden-hooded Tanager
Stilpnia larvata
Bay-headed Tanager
Tangara gyrola
Yellow-faced Grassquit
Tiaris olivaceus
Palm Tanager
Thraupis palmarum
Hepatic Tanager
Piranga flava
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Swainson's Thrush in Chagres National Park?
About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Swainson's Thrush sighting in Chagres National Park, based on 182 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Swainson's Thrush in Chagres National Park?
October has the highest sighting rate for Swainson's Thrush in Chagres National Park in our monthly data.