Veery (Catharus fuscescens)

County List:

Rule:

Forested or Mixed Forested/Nonforested Landscapes

      (Aspen (Pole or Sm Saw or Lg Saw))
      or (Northern Hardwoods (Sm Saw or Lg Saw or Uneven))
      or (Mixed Northern Hardwoods (Sm Saw or Lg Saw or Uneven))
      or (Swamp Hardwoods (Sm Saw or Lg Saw or Uneven))
      or (Balsam Poplar&Swamp Aspen&Swamp Birch (Pole or Sm Saw or Lg Saw or Uneven))
      or (Bottomland Hardwoods (Sm Saw or Lg Saw or Uneven))
      or (Mixed Lowland Hardwoods (Sm Saw or Lg Saw or Uneven))
   containing:
      (Stand/Gap Openings and Mast)

Habitat List:

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Literature:

Habitat: The Veery breeds in a diverse array of forests or partially wooded habitats, including those of deciduous and mixed deciduous-coniferous composition. It is especially common in more open woodlands containing a dense understory of deciduous shrubs or thickets, as those in second-growth aspen, poplar, and pin cherry, in previously logged, burnt-over, or otherwise disturbed areas; and in moist swampy woodlands and river bottoms containing willow or alder. In the Atlas Habitat Survey, most veeries were in moister (mesic to wet) forest types, generally northern hardwoods and often with an evergreen component. In the southern Lower Peninsula, where the climate is warmer and drier during the breeding season, Veeries may have an even stronger preference for wet deciduous forest; Atlas Habitat records indicate they are virtually absent from drier forests in this region.

Preference of the species for a dense understory and shrub layer may be correlated with its habit of flying from low perches to the ground and back while foraging for arthropods. Veeries also tend to place their nests on or near the ground in relatively moist conditions where the nest is shaded.

Although the Veery population in Michigan has probably changed little recently, there are several aspects of its biology that may render the Veery vulnerable to future population declines. These include the Veery's greater dependence on wetter forests as compared with other thrushes, its dependence on wintering habitat in tropical forests that are currently being destroyed at an unprecedented rate, and increasing fragmentation and elimination of the Veery's second-growth woodland breeding habitat. Habitat fragmentation influences nest predation, especially for near-ground nesters with relatively open nest cups like the Veery, as well as vulnerability to nest parasitism by Brown-headed Cowbirds. Forest fragmentation also affects the intensity of competition for similar habitat among Veeries and other thrushes and reduced the moisture level of potential Veery habitat.

Habitat: Breeding: Low, moist deciduous woods, bottomland forests, wooded swamps, damp ravines. Prefers thickets of early deciduous second-growth and open woods with fairly dense high undergrowth of ferns, shrubs, and trees. Avoids mountains.

Special Habitat Requirements: Moist woodlands with understory of low trees and shrubs.

Habitat: Damp deciduous woods. For breeding, favors dense understory and leafy low growth near water. Surrounding habitat usually deciduous woods, sometimes mixed or coniferous woods, or open country on northern Great Plains. In mature forest, avoids areas with little understory, concentrating along streams or other openings. During migration, found mainly in deciduous woods.

Diet: Mostly insects and berries. Diet is mainly insects during the breeding season, including beetles, ants, small wasps, caterpillars, and crickets, also spiders, centipedes, snails; rarely eats small frogs or salamanders. Berries and small fruit may be majority of diet in late summer and fall.

Nest: Typically placed on or near the ground in dense forest. Nests above ground are usually in base of shrub or sapling, less than 5 feet up; nests on ground are often placed against stump or log or in clump of grass or weeds. Nest has foundation of dead leaves, cup made of weeds, twigs, fine strips of bark, lined with rootlets and bark fibers.

Conservation Status: Nests are frequently parasitized by Brown-headed Cowbirds, probably reducing nesting success. Veeries may be declining.