Bicknell's Thrush

Bicknell's Thrush

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About the map

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1. Cool Facts
2. Description
3. Similar Species
4. Sound
5. Range
6. Habitat
7. Food
8. Reproduction
9. Conservation Status
10. Other Names

Only recently considered a separate species from the Gray-cheeked Thrush, the Bicknell's Thrush has one of the most restricted breeding and wintering ranges of any North American bird.

Cool Facts

• Bicknell's Thrush has an unusual mating system. Both males and females mate with different partners. Each nest has young from different males, and males may have young in several nests. More than one male feeds at most nests.

• Males do not hold strict territories, and several different males may sing from the same area within one hour.

Description

• Size: 16-17 cm (6-7 in)
• Weight: 26-30 g (0.92-1.06 ounces)

• Medium-sized thrush.
• Upperparts brownish gray.
• Tail chestnut, contrasting with wings and back.
• Plain gray face with some light streaks but no eyering.

• Dark lines on side of throat blend into dark triangular spots on throat and breast.
• Underparts mostly white, buffy on chest.
• Legs pink.
• Eye dark.
• Bill with pale base to lower mandible and dark tip.

Sex Differences

Sexes alike.

Immature

Like adult.

Similar Species

• Gray-cheeked Thrush is very similar and probably not safely distinguished in the field. May be distinguished by song, with the final note of a gray-cheeked song usually falling in pitch while that of a Bicknell's rises.

Sound

Complex song of burry flute-like notes, usually ending on a upslur. Nocturnal flight note a one-or two-note "whe-eer" dropping in pitch.

Range

Range Map

© 2003 Cornell Lab of Ornithology

About the map

Summer Range

Breeds on high mountain peaks from southeastern Quebec, southward to the Catskill Mountains of New York, across northern New England to Nova Scotia.

Winter Range

Winters in Cuba, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, and Puerto Rico.

Habitat

• Breeds in montane fir and spruce forests, usually associated with recently disturbed areas.
• Winters in broadleaf montane forests.

Food

Insects and other arthropods, fruit.

Reproduction

Nest Type

Open cup of twigs and moss in small tree.

Egg Description

Bluish green with light brown speckling.

Clutch Size

Condition at Hatching

Naked and helpless.

Conservation Status

Population data are difficult to gather, but because of the small range and restricted habitat, it is considered a high conservation priority. Listed on the Audubon Watchlist.

Other Names

Grive de Bicknell (French)
Zorzal migratorio, Tordo de Bicknell (Spanish)

Sources used to construct this page:

Rimmer, C. C., K. P. McFarland, W. G. Ellison, and J. E Goetz. Bicknell's Thrush (Catharus bicknelli). In The Birds of North America, No. 592 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA.