Thrushes
More than three hundred species of thrushes live worldwide. North
America has 15 species, seven of which breed in the Northeast; an
eighth, the gray-cheeked thrush, passes through our region during
migration. Thrushes have thin bills and strong legs. They often forage
on the ground, searching in leaf litter and on lawns for insects and
other invertebrates such as spiders, earthworms and snails; they eat
berries in late summer, in fall, and (if they do not migrate south) in
winter. Juveniles' spotted breasts help camouflage them. Hawks, falcons,
owls, foxes, mink and house cats prey on thrushes. Blue jays, grackles,
crows, raccoons, weasels, squirrels, chipmunks and snakes eat eggs and
nestlings. Many thrushes sing complex mellifluous songs that delight
human listeners. Most thrushes build open cup-shaped nests secured to
branches of low trees and shrubs. Some robins nest on building ledges
and other flat surfaces; bluebirds choose tree cavities or artificial
nesting boxes; and hermit thrushes and veeries often nest on the ground.
The females do most of the actual nest construction. The typical clutch
is four or five eggs; all of the species breeding in the Northeast lay
pale blue or blue-green eggs. Females do most or all of the incubating,
and both parents feed the young.
» Rusty crown, nape and upper back
» White eye ring and streaked cheeks
» White underparts with black spots throughout
» Brown upperparts
» Pink legs
» Sexes similar
» Juvenile has pale spots on upperparts
» Often forages on forest floor
» Distinctive beautiful song
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