10 Most Common Types of Thrush Birds

There are 174 species in the thrush family, and they are often soft, plump medium-sized birds. They have wide-ranging distributions, and many inhabit wooded areas. Most feed on the ground and are insectivorous but eat other creatures like worms and snails. While many thrush species are similar in behavior, they typically have varied appearances. Some may be streaky brown, and others feature blue or red plumage.

Discover the ten most common types of thrush birds in North America, including where they live and how to identify them.

American Robin

The American robin is the largest thrush in North America and one of the most common birds on the continent, often hanging out on suburban lawns and bird feeders. These large songbirds have round bodies, long legs, and long tails. They are grayish-brown above and orange below with dark heads. They also have white patches on their lower bellies and underneath their tails. This species lives year-round in the United States. And populations that breed throughout Canada migrate to the southern US and Mexico for winter. Look for them in backyards, fields, parks, woodlands, forests, mountains, and tundra. Use sunflower seeds, suet, and mealworms to attract robins to your yard.

Calls: Rich carols and mumbled “cucks”

Diet: Insects, berries, and earthworms

Fun Fact: They become intoxicated from eating honeysuckle berries.

Swainson’s Thrush

The Swainson’s thrush may be difficult to spot in their dense wood habitat, but their flute-like songs brighten summer mornings. These medium-sized birds are slim with round heads and short bills. They are brown above and pale below with buffy eyering and dark chest spots. This species breeds through most of Canada and Alaska, migrates through the United States, and winters in Central and South America. You can find them in coniferous forests and streamside woodlands. Entice them to your yard by providing tree and shrub cover with ground-level birdbaths.

Calls: Flutey, spiraling melodies, and hollow peeps

Diet: Insects, berries, and fruits

Fun Fact: Males battle each other over territory with singing duels.

Bicknell’s Thrush

The Bicknell’s thrush lives in remote dense forests and is difficult to distinguish due to its similarity to the gray-cheeked thrush. They are small thrushes with straight, short bills, and feature plain gray faces, pale undersides, and grayish-brown upperparts. They breed in southeastern Canada, migrate through the United State’s east coast, and winter in the West Indies. Their preferred habitats include regenerating forests with undergrowth and overgrown woodlots. This species does not typically come to backyard feeders.

Calls: Whirling nasal songs and harsh “veers”

Diet: Ants, beetles, and small fruits

Fun Fact: Both males and females mate with several partners, and their nests are filled with young from several males.

Hermit Thrush

This inconspicuous bird blends with the forest floor as it lurks through the understory. The hermit thrush has a chunky body with a slender bill and round head. They have rich brown heads and backs with reddish tails and pale underparts. They also have distinct brown spots on their breasts. These birds breed in Canada and the western United States and winter in the southeast and Mexico. You can find them in many habitats, including mountain forests and woodlands. However, they do not typically visit backyards unless there are berry bushes on your property.

Calls: Clear, musical songs and low tucks

Diet: Insects, spiders, and berries

Fun Fact: They shake grass with their feet to find insects.

Veery

The veery gets its name from the descending “veer” song the male produces when defending its territory. They are plump medium-sized thrushes with round heads and straight bills. They are chestnut or cinnamon brown above and pale below with buffy-orange throats. This species breeds in southern Canada, migrates through the eastern United States and Central America, and winters in central South America. They live in dense, moist woodlands near a water source and are not common backyard birds.

Calls: ethereal, downward-spiraling songs and whistled calls

Diet: Insects and berries

Fun Fact: Veeries can fly up to 160 miles in one night.

Gray-cheeked Thrush

The gray-cheeked thrush is an elusive bird and one of the hardest thrushes to identify. They have a compact size with long wings and short bills. They are grayish-brown above and gray below, with dark spots on the breast and throat. This species breeds in northern Canada, migrates through the eastern half of the United States, and winters in Northern South America. You will often find them in shrubby or open wooded habitats, and they are not known for visiting feeders.  

Calls: Thin, reedy notes and high-pitched “vreer” calls

Diet: Insects, berries, wild fruits

Fun Fact: Small populations breed in eastern Russia.

Wood Thrush

The wood thrush is not as shy and elusive as other thrush and is more likely to be spotted in parks or suburbs. This species has a plump belly, a short tail, and a straight bill. They have deep reddish-brown plumage above and white below, with distinctive black spots on their chests and sides. The wood thrush breeds in the eastern half of the United States and winters in Central America. And you can find them in mature forests, town parks, and tropical lowland forests. These birds are unlikely to visit backyards, but you may be able to hear their vocalizations if you live next to a wooded area. 

Calls: Rich, flute-like melodies and sharp “pit-pit” calls

Diet: Leaf litter invertebrates and fruits

Fun Fact: Due to its Y-shaped voicebox, the wood thrush can harmonize with itself.

Gray Catbird

The gray catbird produces a mewing call, not unlike a cat (hence the name). They are medium-sized and slender, featuring long, rounded tails and narrow bills. These birds are slate gray with black caps, black tails, and reddish-brown tail undersides. They breed throughout most of the United States except for the far west and winter in the Southeast US and Central America. Some populations live year-round along the east coast. You can find them energetically bouncing through dense shrubs and thickets near roadsides, farmland, and residential areas. You can attract them by planting shrubs and fruit-bearing trees in your yard.

Calls: Long, irregular mechanical notes and cat-like mewing

Diet: Insects and fruits

Fun Fact: One gray catbird song can last up to ten minutes.

Sage Thrasher

The sage thrasher is the smallest of the species and inhabits sagebrush steppe out west. They have long legs and tails for their size, but their bills are much shorter than other thrashers. These birds have pale gray plumage, dark brown spotting, white wingbars, and white tail feathers. They also have yellow irises. Sage thrashers breed in the western United States and winter in the Southwest US and Mexico. They live exclusively in shrubsteppe habitats in the vast, open spaces of the west. 

Calls: Sweet continuous warbles and deep chuck calls

Diet: Terrestrial insects, arthropods, and berries

Fun Fact: They can sing for 20 minutes without taking a break.

Eastern Bluebird

These brilliant royal blue birds are the most widespread bluebirds on the continent. They have small bodies with big, round heads and large eyes. And they are deep blue above and rusty red below, with white lower bellies. The eastern bluebird lives year-round in the southeastern United States and parts of Mexico, but some populations breed in the Northeast. These birds live in open country near trees, like pastures, fields, parks, and backyards. The bluebird is a familiar feather friend at backyard feeders, especially if there are mealworms. 

Calls: Soft warbles and liquid musical calls

Diet: Insects, fruits, and small reptiles

Fun Fact: Males attract a mate by bringing nest material to the hole.

Summary of 10 Most Common Types of Thrush Birds

The photo featured at the top of this post is © iStock.com/Jeff Edwards