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ForestCup nestSmall · 32 g
ID tip
The gray-cheeked thrush is slightly larger than other Catharus thrushes, about 16 to 17 cm (6.7 in) in height and weighing between 26 and 30g. Wingspan ranges from 12.6-13.4 in (32-34 cm). The bird can be identified by its grayish face, partial pale eyering, drab gray-brown upperside and extensively dusky flanks. The area between the eye and the beak is grayish as well, but the area running from the beak to above the eye is grayish white. The gray-cheeked thrush is nearly identical to the Bicknell's Thrush. Voice: The vocalizations of the gray-cheeked thrush are the most reliable way to identify it, compared to the Bicknell's Thrush. It has a complex song of burry flute-like notes, usually inflecting downward at the end. It resembles a descending spiral like the veery (Catharus fuscescens), but higher, thinner, and nasal with stuttering pauses: "ch-ch zreeew zi-zi-zreeee zizreeew".
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
When to see the Grey-cheeked Thrush
One bar for each month. Filled bars are the 5 months with records; pale bars are months with none. The wide bar is May, the month with the most records.
Where to see the Grey-cheeked Thrush
The map shades 26 countries with regular records, and 9 more in a lighter tone where the bird turns up only as a stray. Everything unshaded has no records. Countries are listed below the map.
Recorded as a rare visitor in Norway, Portugal, France, Ireland, Iceland, Russia, Jamaica, Martinique, Turks & Caicos Islands.
About the Grey-cheeked Thrush
The gray-cheeked thrush is a medium-sized thrush. This species is 15–17 cm (5.9–6.7 in) in length, and has the white-dark-white underwing pattern characteristic of Catharus thrushes. It is a member of a close-knit group of migrant species together with the veery and Bicknell's thrush; it forms a cryptic species pair with the latter. The gray-cheeked thrush is all but indistinguishable from Bicknell's thrush except by its slightly larger size and different song. The two were formerly considered conspecific. Of all the American spotted thrushes, the gray-cheeked has the most northern breeding range.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Easily confused with
Orange-billed Nightingale-ThrushCatharus aurantiirostrisThe orange-billed nightingale-thrush is 15.5 to 17 cm (6.1 to 6.7 in) long and weighs 21 to 32 g (0.74 to 1.1 oz).
Slaty-backed Nightingale-ThrushCatharus fuscaterThe slaty-backed nightingale-thrush is 17 to 18 cm (6.7 to 7.1 in) long.
Ruddy-capped Nightingale-ThrushCatharus frantziiThe ruddy-capped nightingale-thrush is about 15 to 18 cm (5.9 to 7.1 in) long and weighs about 30 g (1.1 oz).
Side by side: Grey-cheeked Thrush vs Hermit Thrush · Grey-cheeked Thrush vs Swainson's Thrush · Grey-cheeked Thrush vs Veery · Grey-cheeked Thrush vs Orange-billed Nightingale-Thrush · Grey-cheeked Thrush vs Slaty-backed Nightingale-Thrush · Grey-cheeked Thrush vs Ruddy-capped Nightingale-Thrush
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