Swainson's Thrush (Catharus ustulatus)

County List:

Rule:

Forested or Mixed Forested/Nonforested Landscapes

      (Any Lowland Conifer (Pole or Sm Saw or Lg Saw or Uneven))
      or (Mixed Lowland Conifer (Pole or Sm Saw or Lg Saw or Uneven))
   containing:
      Mast

Habitat List:

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Literature:

Habitat: Most of the breeding range of the Swainson's Thrush coincides neatly with the geographical extent of its preferred nesting habitat: coniferous or mixed forest dominated by spruce, fir, white cedar, or tamarack.

Atlas Habitat Survey data show that in Michigan most breeding activity is concentrated (17 of 18 records) in northern hardwood forests, both with and without canopy-level conifers. In a detailed study of habitat selection among North American Catharus thrushes in mountainous areas of the Northeast, Noon (1981) found that breeding habitat of the Swainson's Thrush often contains both deciduous and coniferous trees, but that the species strongly prefers high conifer density in the understory.

Nests are most commonly built on horizontal branches near the trunks of small conifers or broad-leaved trees, typically from 2 to 20 feet above ground. An additional characteristic of the Swainson's Thrush's breeding habitat found by Noon is the presence of canopy gaps produced by fallen trees or other disturbances. This feature correlates well with the observation that birds of this species hawk for insects more than do members of the other thrush species.

Habitat: Breeding: Spruce-fir forests especially in low damp areas near water. Occurs in both young stands and mature forests. Prefers forest interiors to edges. Occasionally breeds in mixed woodlands.

Special Habitat Requirements: Coniferous or mixed forests.

Habitat: Spruce forests and dense streamside woods; in migration, other woods. Breeds in far north and in mountains in coniferous forest with extensive leafy undergrowth. Occurs in many kinds of woodlands in migration.

Diet: Mostly insects and berries. In North America, feeds on a variety of insects including beetles, ants, caterpillars, crickets, wasps, flies, and moths, also spiders and other invertebrates. Berries and fruits amount to over one-third of summer diet.

Nest: Usually placed on a horizontal branch 2-10 feet above the ground, sometimes lower or much higher (rarely up to 30 feet). Often nests in conifers in the east and north. Nest is a bulky open cup of twigs, bark strips, moss, grass, leaves, sometimes with some mud added. Lined with bark fibers, lichens, animal hair, other soft materials.

Conservation Status: Declining - possibly due to loss of breeding habitat.