Silhouette: Sharon Wegner-Larsen · PhyloPic

Gray-cheeked Thrush

Catharus minimus

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 minimus (Gray-cheeked Thrush)

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

at Puracé National Natural Park

2 Verified sightings at Puracé National Natural Park From 2019 to 2026

2,155 Verified sightings across all 53 parks From 2019 to 2026

☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

About the Gray-cheeked Thrush

The gray-cheeked thrush (Catharus minimus) is a medium-sized thrush. This species is 15–17 cm (5.9–6.7 in) in length, and has the white-dark-white underwing pattern characteristic of Catharus thrushes. It is a member of a close-knit group of migrant species together with the veery and Bicknell's thrush; it forms a cryptic species pair with the latter. The gray-cheeked thrush is all but indistinguishable from Bicknell's thrush except by its slightly larger size and different song. The two were formerly considered conspecific. Of all the American spotted thrushes, the gray-cheeked has the most northern breeding range.

The gray-cheeked thrush is slightly larger than other Catharus thrushes, about 16 to 17 cm (6.7 in) in height and weighing between 26 and 30g. Wingspan ranges from 12.6-13.4 in (32-34 cm). The bird can be identified by its grayish face, partial pale eyering, drab gray-brown upperside and extensively dusky flanks. The area between the eye and the beak is grayish as well, but the area running from the beak to above the eye is grayish white. The gray-cheeked thrush is nearly identical to the Bicknell's Thrush.

There are two subspecies: the northern gray... Wikipedia →

Closest Relatives at Puracé National Natural Park

Catharus aurantiirostris

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Catharus ustulatus

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Turdus fuscater

Daily sighting probability ~50% · Likely

Turdus ignobilis

Daily sighting probability ~40% · Likely

Turdus leucomelas

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Myadestes ralloides

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Turdus serranus

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Turdus fulviventris

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Turdus leucops

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

Zonotrichia capensis

Daily sighting probability ~80% · Very likely

Cyanocorax yncas

Daily sighting probability ~50% · Likely

Tyrannus melancholicus

Daily sighting probability ~50% · 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	Point Pelee National Park	🇨🇦 Canada	~10%
2	Katmai National Park	🇺🇸 United States	<5%
3	Brownsberg Nature Park	🇸🇷 Suriname	<5%
4	Cahuita National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
5	Denali National Park	🇺🇸 United States	<5%
6	Kenai Fjords National Park	🇺🇸 United States	<5%
7	Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
8	Tayrona National Natural Park	🇨🇴 Colombia	<5%
9	Pico Bonito National Park	🇭🇳 Honduras	<5%
10	Bastimentos Island National Marine Park	🇵🇦 Panama	<5%
11	Celestún Biosphere Reserve	🇲🇽 Mexico	<5%
12	Wrangell-St. Elias National Park	🇺🇸 United States	<5%
13	Soberanía National Park	🇵🇦 Panama	<5%
14	Tortuguero National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
15	Chagres National Park	🇵🇦 Panama	<5%
16	Congaree National Park	🇺🇸 United States	<5%
17	Henri Pittier National Park	🇻🇪 Venezuela	<5%
18	Montes Azules Biosphere Reserve	🇲🇽 Mexico	<5%
19	Tenorio Volcano National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
20	Tikal National Park	🇬🇹 Guatemala	<5%
21	Braulio Carrillo National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
22	Darién National Park	🇵🇦 Panama	<5%
23	Parque Natural Metropolitano	🇵🇦 Panama	<5%
24	La Amistad International Park (Panama)	🇵🇦 Panama	<5%
25	Sierra de la Macarena National Park	🇨🇴 Colombia	<5%
26	Gros Morne National Park	🇨🇦 Canada	<5%
27	Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary	🇧🇿 Belize	<5%
28	Volcán Barú National Park	🇵🇦 Panama	<5%
29	Arenal Volcano National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
30	Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve	🇲🇽 Mexico	<5%
31	Shenandoah National Park	🇺🇸 United States	<5%
32	Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve	🇪🇨 Ecuador	<5%
33	Tapantí-Macizo de la Muerte National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
34	Everglades National Park	🇺🇸 United States	<5%
35	Yasuní National Park	🇪🇨 Ecuador	<5%
36	Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
37	Farallones de Cali National Natural Park	🇨🇴 Colombia	<5%
38	Joshua Tree National Park	🇺🇸 United States	Insufficient data
39	Utría National Natural Park	🇨🇴 Colombia	Insufficient data
40	Isle Royale National Park	🇺🇸 United States	Insufficient data
41	Biotopo Cerro Cahuí	🇬🇹 Guatemala	Insufficient data
42	Rincón de la Vieja National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	Insufficient data
43	Calakmul Biosphere Reserve	🇲🇽 Mexico	Insufficient data
44	Canaima National Park	🇻🇪 Venezuela	Insufficient data
45	Arrecifes de Cozumel National Park	🇲🇽 Mexico	Insufficient data
46	Chingaza National Natural Park	🇨🇴 Colombia	Insufficient data
47	Amacayacu National Natural Park	🇨🇴 Colombia	Insufficient data
48	Puracé National Natural Park	🇨🇴 Colombia	Insufficient data
49	Chirripó National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	Insufficient data
50	Cerro Azul Meámbar National Park	🇭🇳 Honduras	Insufficient data
51	Los Nevados National Natural Park	🇨🇴 Colombia	Insufficient data
52	Big Cypress National Preserve	🇺🇸 United States	Insufficient data
53	Los Quetzales National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	Insufficient data

← Back to Puracé National Natural Park

Gray-cheeked Thrush

About the Gray-cheeked Thrush

Recent sightings of Gray-cheeked Thrush in Puracé National Natural Park

Closest Relatives at Puracé National Natural Park

Orange-billed Nightingale-Thrush

Swainson's Thrush

Great Thrush

Black-billed Thrush

Pale-breasted Thrush

Andean Solitaire

Glossy-black Thrush

Chestnut-bellied Thrush

Pale-eyed Thrush

Rufous-collared Sparrow

Green Jay

Tropical Kingbird

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found