# Swainson's Thrush (*Catharus ustulatus*) Swainson's Thrush is a lovely bird known for its beautiful song. It has a brown back and spotted chest, making it easy to recognize in the woods. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 23 - **Habitat:** Forests ![Swainson's Thrush](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Catharus_ustulatus_-North_Dakota-8a.jpg&width=800) Photo: Matt Reinbold from Bismarck, ND, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Catharus_ustulatus_-North_Dakota-8a.jpg) ## Appearance The Swainson's Thrush has a warm brown back and head, with a paler buffy chest spotted with dark brown. Its most distinctive feature is a prominent buffy eye-ring and lores, making its eyes look 'spectacled'. This unique facial pattern helps differentiate it from other thrushes. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Passeriformes - **Family:** Turdidae - **Genus:** Catharus ## Interesting facts - Their incredible flute-like song always spirals \*up\* in pitch, a true forest symphony! - These tiny birds can sometimes travel from Alaska all the way to Argentina! - When startled, they make a distinct 'pup' call, like a tiny alarm bell! - Wow! Swainson's Thrushes fly thousands of kilometers, often migrating under the stars at night! ## Special abilities - **Celestial Navigator:** Swainson's Thrush can navigate thousands of miles using stars and Earth's magnetic field, helping them find their way across continents. - **Spiral Songster:** Swainson's Thrush has a unique flute-like song that spirals upwards, helping them communicate with others from hidden spots. - **Forest Forager:** Swainson's Thrush can quickly spot and snatch insects from the leaf litter because of their excellent vision, helping them find food. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 16-20 cm - **Wingspan:** 30-35 cm - **Weight:** 0.027-0.045 kg - **Lifespan:** 2-10 years - **Speed:** 50 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 3-5 - **Incubation:** 10-14 days - **Migration Distance:** 7000 km ## Diet & Feeding They are omnivores, eating mostly insects and berries depending on the season and availability. - **Age differences:** Adults mainly eat insects during breeding, switching to more fruits and berries during migration. - **Primary Foods:** beetles, ants, caterpillars, earthworms, wild berries, small fruits - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Cooper's Hawk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/cooper-s-hawk) (*Accipiter cooperii*) — Nestlings and adults are hunted. - **Eaten by:** Common Garter Snake (*Thamnophis sirtalis*) — Can raid nests for eggs and chicks. - **Eats:** [Red Raspberry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-raspberry) (*Rubus idaeus*) — Feeds on ripe fruits during migration. - **Eats:** Red Wood Ant (*Formica rufa*) — Forages for ants and their larvae. ## Traits - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Spotted](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spotted): Marked with spots or patches of a different color. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Singing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/singing): Singing animals produce complex vocalizations, often for purposes of attracting mates, defending territory, or communicating within their species. - [Insectivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/insectivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Migratory](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/migratory): Migratory animals undertake seasonal movements from one region to another, typically in response to changes in climate or food availability. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Enjoy watching birds from a distance and don't try to touch them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Swainson's Thrush? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Swainson's Thrush? 16-20 cm ### What is Swainson's Thrush's wingspan? 30-35 cm ### How much does Swainson's Thrush weigh? 0.027-0.045 kg ### How long does Swainson's Thrush live? 2-10 years ### How fast can Swainson's Thrush move? 50 km/h ### What does Swainson's Thrush eat? They are omnivores, eating mostly insects and berries depending on the season and availability. ### Where is Swainson's Thrush usually found? Forests ## Where to spot - [Chicken Ridge Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/chicken-ridge-historic-district) — US · Historic District - [Cut Bank Ranger Station Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cut-bank-ranger-station-historic-district) — Montana, US · Historic District - [Falls Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/falls-park) — South Dakota, US · Park - [Frelinghuysen Arboretum](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/frelinghuysen-arboretum) — New Jersey, US · Botanical Garden - [Irvington Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/irvington-historic-district) — Indiana, US · Historic District - [Kincaid Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/kincaid-park) — Alaska, US · Park [View all places to see Swainson's Thrush](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/swainsons-thrush) ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [Swainson's Thrush: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/swainsons-thrush)