Field Guide for all the Birds of North America

Thrushes

Grives

Catharus, Hylocichla, Ixoreus, Ridgwayia

Information, images and range maps on over 1,000 birds of North America, including sub-species, vagrants, introduced birds and possibilities

There are eight types of thrushes including the native and vagrant species that have been seen in North America. This does not include other bird species such as the bluebirds, robins, fieldfare, Veery and Solitaire, who are all members of the thrush family. Thrushes most often prefer dense and moist forest areas where their sweet melodies can be heard but the bird itself is seldom seen.

Thrushes are long distance flyers and migrate from North America into South America in the colder seasons. From the wide range of the Hermit Thrush and the Swainson's Thrush to the very local areas of the Bicknell's Thrush, who prefers the higher altitude of the eastern mountains of the Maritime provinces of Canada and the northeastern states of the USA. The Wood Thrush lives in the eastern states and the southeastern parts of Canada. Then, there are the two most northern species, the Gray-cheeked Thrush, who has a range across all of northern Canada and the Varied Thrush, with a range from Alaska into the southern Rockies. The Aztec Thrush and the Red-legged Thrush are vagrants who inhabit Mexico, Central America and the islands of the Caribbean and are sometimes seen in the southern regions of the USA.

References to Other Bird Sites:

Avibase - the world bird database This site provides the user with a complete list of bird species, broken down per country, or in the example of the US or Canada, per state and province. Here, bird species names are available in other languages, a great asset to be used as a translation of foreign bird names.

ABA - American Birding Association This site represents an organization that maintains official records of all birds species that have been proven to have been seen inside the perimeters of the North American Continent and the surrounding bodies of water. Regular revised versions are posted to keep the bird list current at all times. This is the list used by all serious birders over their lifetime. You may be aware of the movie called the "Big Year". It was with this list that all the competing birders used in an attempt to set a new record as to how many bird species that could be seen by an individual birder in one calendar year.

I hope you will take advantage of these suggested websites. I have used each of them, in one way or another, throughout the years in my quest to better identify and understand our fine feathered friends.

Classic Collection of North American Birds

CCNAB