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Gray-cheeked Thrush

Catharus minimusOrder: PASSERIFORMESFamily: Thrushes (Turdidae)
Gray-cheeked Thrush (minimus) Breeding Male Head Illustration

Head

  • Bill Shape: All-purpose
  • Eye Color: Dark brown in all ages.
  • Head Pattern: Plain, Eyering (complete or broken), Malar or malar stripe
  • Crown Color: Gray-brown
  • Forehead Color: Gray
  • Nape Color: Gray-brown
  • Throat Color: Buff with dark spotting.
  • Cere color: No Data
Gray-cheeked Thrush (minimus) Breeding Male Body Illustration

Body

  • Length Range: 17-20 cm (6.5-8 in)
  • Weight: 34 g (1.2 oz)
  • Size: Size 2. Small (5 - 9 in)
  • Color: White, Brown, Gray, Olive, Buff
  • Underparts: White and buff breast with dark spotting.
  • Upperparts: Gray-brown
  • Back Pattern: Solid
  • Belly Pattern: Solid
  • Breast Pattern: Spotted or speckled
Gray-cheeked Thrush (minimus) Breeding Male Flight Illustration

Flight

  • Flight Pattern: Relatively swift direct flight with somewhat jerky wing strokes.
  • Wingspan Range: 29-34 cm (11.5-13.5 in)
  • Wing Shape: Pointed-Wings
  • Tail Shape: Forked Tail
  • Tail Pattern: Solid
  • Upper Tail: Gray-brown
  • Under Tail: White
  • Leg Color: Pink
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Family Thrush (Turdidae)_blue
Species Catharus minimus
Length6.5 - 8 Inches
Wingspan12.5 Inches

Gray-cheeked Thrush

Gray-cheeked Thrush: Small thrush (minimus), with olive-brown upperparts, buff-brown breast with brown spots, and white or buff belly. Gray eye-ring is indistinct. Upper mandible is black with pale base, while lower mandible is yellow with black tip. Tail and rump have rust-brown wash.

● Song: "wheeoo-titi-wheeoo", "phreu"

● Foraging & Feeding: Gray-cheeked Thrush: Eats mostly insects such as beetles, ants, wasps, and caterpillars; also feeds on spiders, crayfish, sow bugs, earthworms, grapes, wild cherries, blackberries, and raspberries. Usually forages on the ground.

● Breeding & nesting: Gray-cheeked Thrush: Three to six green blue to pale blue eggs, with brown specks, are laid in a nest made of grass, sedges, bark, weed stems, twigs, and moss, lined with grass, leaves, and fine rootlets, and built on low branch of a tree or shrub, up to 10 feet above the ground. Incubation ranges from 13 to 14 days and is carried out by the female.

● Similar species: Gray-cheeked Thrush: Swainson's Thrush has buff face and eye-ring. Bicknell's Thrush is smaller, has warmer brown tones on upperparts, and more yellow on lower mandible. Veery has duller spots on underparts and is usually more red-brown. Hermit Thrush has distinct rufous on tail and wings and an eye-ring.

Flight Pattern

Relatively swift direct flight with somewhat jerky wing strokes.
Gray-cheeked Thrush (minimus) Breeding Male Body Illustration
● Range & Habitat: Gray-cheeked Thrush: Breeds from northern Alaska across northern Canada to Newfoundland, south to northern British Columbia, northern Ontario, and central Quebec. Spends winters in Central and South America. Preferred habitats include coniferous forests (primarily spruce), tall shrubby areas in taiga, deciduous forests, and open woodlands.
BreedingMonogamous, Solitary nester
Population
MigrationMigratory
Weight1.2 Ounces