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 →
Recent sightings of Swainson's Thrush in Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve
Veery
Catharus fuscescens
Gray-cheeked Thrush
Catharus minimus
Clay-colored Thrush
Turdus grayi
Wood Thrush
Hylocichla mustelina
Great-tailed Grackle
Quiscalus mexicanus
Tropical Mockingbird
Mimus gilvus
Social Flycatcher
Myiozetetes similis
Melodious Blackbird
Dives dives
Yucatán Jay
Cyanocorax yucatanicus
Brown Jay
Psilorhinus morio
Hooded Oriole
Icterus cucullatus
Great Kiskadee
Pitangus sulphuratus
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 Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve?
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Swainson's Thrush sighting in Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve, based on 64 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Swainson's Thrush in Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve?
October has the highest sighting rate for Swainson's Thrush in Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve in our monthly data.