Bird GuideThrushesBicknell's Thrush

At a Glance

Extremely similar to the Gray-cheeked Thrush, this bird was only recently recognized as a distinct species. It has a limited summer range in the northeast, from upstate New York to Nova Scotia and Quebec, where it nests in short, stunted conifers near the tops of mountains and in dense second-growth woods with many young conifers. Gray-cheeked and Bicknell's thrushes have slightly different songs and different callnotes in flight, but differences in their behavior have not been thoroughly studied. They have separate wintering areas: Bicknell's migrates south to the West Indies, especially the island of Hispaniola, while the Gray-cheeked goes on to South America. With its very limited range, Bicknell's Thrush merits close study and attention from conservationists.
Category
Perching Birds, Thrushes
Conservation
Vulnerable
Habitat
Forests and Woodlands
Region
Florida, Mid Atlantic, New England, Southeast
Behavior
Direct Flight
Population
110.000

Range & Identification

Migration & Range Maps

Description

7 1/2". Very similar to Gray-cheeked Thrush but tends to have more yellow on lower mandible, more chestnut tinge on tail. Best identified by summer range and voice.
Size
About the size of a Sparrow, About the size of a Robin
Color
Brown, Gray, White
Wing Shape
Pointed
Tail Shape
Notched, Rounded, Square-tipped

Songs and Calls

Song: nasal, rising at end: whee-wheeoo-ti-ti-whee. Call: down-slurred whee-ah.
Call Pattern
Falling, Undulating
Call Type
Buzz, Flute, Trill, Whistle

Climate Vulnerability

Conservation Status