# Varied Thrush (*Ixoreus naevius*) The Varied Thrush is a beautiful bird with bright orange and black colors. It loves to hop around on the forest floor looking for tasty insects and berries to eat. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 8 - **Habitat:** Forests ![Varied Thrush](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Varied_thrush_%2873976%29.jpg&width=800) Photo: Rhododendrites, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Varied_thrush_%2873976%29.jpg) ## Appearance The Varied Thrush has a striking dark grey-blue back and head with a distinctive broad, rusty-orange breast band. Its face features a prominent black mask and collar, contrasting with the orange, and it shows two orange wing bars on dark wings. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Passeriformes - **Family:** Turdidae - **Genus:** Ixoreus ## Interesting facts - During winter, Varied Thrushes sometimes gather in huge flocks to feast on juicy berries! - Some believe its slow, drawn-out whistle sounds like a ghost calling in the woods! - Their nests are often camouflaged with moss and twigs, making them super hard to spot. - This bird often stays perfectly still, then dashes to catch prey, a clever hunting trick! ## Special abilities - **Rain Dance Mimicry:** Varied Thrushes can rapidly vibrate their feet on the ground, mimicking rain, which makes earthworms surface, helping them find food. - **Forest Flutist:** The Varied Thrush has a haunting, flute-like song, with long, single notes, that helps them communicate across dense forest environments. - **Sharp Sight:** Varied Thrushes have excellent vision, especially in low light, which helps them forage for insects and berries on the forest floor. - **Camouflage Cloak:** With its dark grey and rusty orange plumage, the Varied Thrush can blend seamlessly into the shaded undergrowth, helping it hide from predators. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 20-26 cm - **Wingspan:** 34-42 cm - **Weight:** 0.065-0.1 kg - **Lifespan:** 2-10 years - **Speed:** 45 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 2-6 - **Incubation:** 11-14 days - **Migration Distance:** 1500 km ## Diet & Feeding Varied Thrushes are omnivores, enjoying a mix of insects, other invertebrates, and a variety of berries. - **Primary Foods:** Insects (beetles, ants), Spiders, Earthworms, Berries (huckleberries, salal), Seeds - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Cooper's Hawk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/cooper-s-hawk) (*Accipiter cooperii*) — A common bird predator in forests. - **Eats:** [Earthworm](https://www.snappit.app/explore/earthworm) (*Lumbricus terrestris*) — A primary invertebrate prey item, found by foot-trembling. - **Eats:** [Red Huckleberry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-huckleberry) (*Vaccinium parvifolium*) — Provides essential berries, especially in fall and winter. - **Shelter:** Douglas-fir (*Pseudotsuga menziesii*) — Provides nesting sites and dense cover in its forest habitat. ## Traits - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [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. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [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. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always watch birds from a distance so they feel safe. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Varied 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 Varied Thrush? 20-26 cm ### What is Varied Thrush's wingspan? 34-42 cm ### How much does Varied Thrush weigh? 0.065-0.1 kg ### How long does Varied Thrush live? 2-10 years ### How fast can Varied Thrush move? 45 km/h ### What does Varied Thrush eat? Varied Thrushes are omnivores, enjoying a mix of insects, other invertebrates, and a variety of berries. ### Where is Varied Thrush usually found? Forests ## Where to spot - [Chicken Ridge Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/chicken-ridge-historic-district) — US · Historic District - [Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/point-defiance-zoo-and-aquarium) — Washington, US · Zoo - [Alaska Botanical Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/alaska-botanical-garden) — Alaska, US · Botanical Garden - [Naval Air Station North Island](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/naval-air-station-north-island) — California, US · Historic Site - [Redwood National and State Parks](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/redwood-national-and-state-parks) — California, US · National Park - [Lynn Canyon Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/lynn-canyon-park) — British Columbia, CA · Nature Reserve [View all places to see Varied Thrush](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/varied-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: [Varied Thrush: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/varied-thrush)