Gray-cheeked Thrush
NameGray-cheeked Thrush
Common NameGray-cheeked Thrush
Scientific NameCatharus minimus
FamilyTurdidae
Wingspan (cm)30
Length (cm)17
Weight (g)29
Plumage DetailsUpperparts are uniformly brown, contrasting with a white belly and flanks. The breast shows faint dusky spotting. Key features include distinctive gray cheeks and a faint, broken pale eye-ring. The bill is bicolored, with a dark upper mandible and a yellowish lower mandible.
Vocalization / CallIts song is a distinctive, spiraling, flute-like series of notes, often descending. The call note is a sharp, nasal "veer" or "chup".
Primary Dietomnivore
Primary Habitatsforest
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Geographic RangeBreeds in the boreal forests of Alaska and Canada. Migrates through eastern North America, wintering primarily in northern South America.
Identifying Featuresgray cheeks, plain brown back and tail (lacking rufous), faint dusky breast spotting, pale, broken eye-ring, bicolored bill (dark above, yellowish below)
Description
A medium-sized thrush, the Gray-cheeked Thrush has plain brown upperparts and a white belly with faint dusky spotting on the breast. It is known for its distinctive gray cheeks and a shy demeanor, often foraging quietly on the forest floor.
