Silhouette: Sharon Wegner-Larsen · PhyloPic

Swainson's Thrush

Q: What are the chances of seeing a Swainson's Thrush in Joshua Tree National Park?

Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Swainson's Thrush sighting in Joshua Tree National Park, based on 20 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.

Q: When is the best time to see Swainson's Thrush in Joshua Tree National Park?

May has the highest sighting rate for Swainson's Thrush in Joshua Tree National Park in our monthly data.

Catharus ustulatus

Silhouette: Sharon Wegner-Larsen · PhyloPic

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered

KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
PhylumChordata (Chordates)
ClassAves (Birds)
OrderPasseriformes (Perching Birds)
FamilyTurdidae (Thrushes)
GenusCatharus (Brown Thrushes and Nightingale-Thrushes)
SpeciesCatharus ustulatus (Swainson's Thrush)

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

at Joshua Tree National Park

20 Verified sightings at Joshua Tree National Park From 2019 to 2026

25,669 Verified sightings across all 94 parks From 2019 to 2026

May 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 Joshua Tree National Park

Catharus guttatus

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Catharus minimus

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

Sialia mexicana

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible

Turdus migratorius

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible

Sialia currucoides

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Turdus rufopalliatus

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

Myadestes townsendi

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Ixoreus naevius

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

Corvus corax

Daily sighting probability ~80% · Very likely

Haemorhous mexicanus

Daily sighting probability ~80% · Very likely

Auriparus flaviceps

Daily sighting probability ~70% · Very likely

Zonotrichia leucophrys

Daily sighting probability ~60% · Likely

See all 12 relatives Show fewer

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 Joshua Tree National Park?

Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Swainson's Thrush sighting in Joshua Tree National Park, based on 20 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.

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

May has the highest sighting rate for Swainson's Thrush in Joshua Tree National Park in our monthly data.

← Back to Joshua Tree National Park

Swainson's Thrush

About the Swainson's Thrush

Recent sightings of Swainson's Thrush in Joshua Tree National Park

Closest Relatives at Joshua Tree National Park

Hermit Thrush

Gray-cheeked Thrush

Western Bluebird

American Robin

Mountain Bluebird

Rufous-backed Robin

Townsend's Solitaire

Varied Thrush

Common Raven

House Finch

Verdin

White-crowned Sparrow

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found

Quick answers