Turdidae - Thrushes, Bluebirds, Chats

There are around 180 species of birds in this family. They are found worldwide except for Antarctica and parts of the Arctic.

They are found in a variety of habitats including forests, scrublands, wetlands, deserts, grasslands, fields, and suburban and urban areas.

The birds in this family are small to medium-sized, between 4.5-13 inches in length. They have slender bills; short, rounded or pointed wings; and medium-sized tails.

The birds in this family come in a variety of colors and patterns including brown, blue, gray, and black. They often have patches of red, orange, white, or yellow. They eat fruit, berries, insects, seeds, leaves, and worms.

World Status Key
Least Concern Near Threatened Vulnerable Endangered Critically Endangered Extinct in Wild Extinct Not Enough Data
Status and range is taken from ICUN Redlist.

U.S. Status Key Threatened in US Endangered in US Status taken from US Fish and Wildlife Click on U.S. status icon to go to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife species profile.

New Hampshire Status Key Threatened in NH Endangered in NH Introduced Status taken from NH Fish and Game

Location Key
Africa Asia Australia/Oceania Europe North America South America NH Click for More Info Click for Image

New Hampshire Species		North/Central American Species
Bicknell's Thrush - Catharus bicknelli Veery - Catharus fuscescens Hermit Thrush - Catharus guttatus Gray-cheeked Thrush - Catharus minimus Swainson's Thrush - Catharus ustulatus Wood Thrush - Hylocichla mustelina Varied Thrush - Ixoreus naevius Eastern Bluebird - Sialia sialis American Robin - Turdus migratorius		Puaiohi - Myadestes palmeri Townsend's Solitaire - Myadestes townsendi Slate-colored Solitaire - Myadestes unicolor Amaui - Myadestes woahensis Mountain Bluebird - Sialia currucoides Western Bluebird - Sialia mexicana White-necked Thrush - Turdus albicollis Eastern Red-legged Thrush - Turdus ardosiaceus White-throated Thrush - Turdus assimilis White-chinned Thrush - Turdus aurantius San Lucas Robin - Turdus Confinis Cocoa Thrush - Turdus fumigatus Clay-colored Thrush - Turdus grayi Black Thrush - Turdus infuscatus White-eyed Thrush - Turdus jamaicensis Forest Thrush - Turdus lherminieri Sooty Thrush - Turdus nigrescens Spectacled Thrush - Turdus nudigenis Pale-vented Thrush - Turdus obsoletus Mountain Thrush - Turdus plebejus Red-legged Thrush - Turdus plumbeus Grand Cayman Thrush - Turdus ravidus Western Red-legged Thrush - Turdus rubripes Rufous-collared Thrush - Turdus rufitorques Rufous-backed Thrush - Turdus rufopalliatus La Selle Thrush - Turdus swalesi Aztec Thrush - Ridgwayia pinicola
North/Central American Species
Orange-billed Nightingale-thrush - Catharus aurantiirostris Spotted Nightingale-thrush - Catharus dryas Ruddy-capped Nightingale-thrush - Catharus frantzii Slaty-backed Nightingale-thrush - Catharus fuscater Black-billed Nightingale-thrush - Catharus gracilirostris Black-headed Nightingale-thrush - Catharus mexicanus Russet Nightingale-thrush - Catharus occidentalis Varied Solitaire - Myadestes coloratus Cuban Solitaire - Myadestes elisabeth Rufous-throated Solitaire - Myadestes genibarbis Olomao - Myadestes lanaiensis Black-faced Solitaire - Myadestes melanops Kamao - Myadestes myadestinus Omao - Myadestes obscurus Brown-backed Solitaire - Myadestes occidentalis

 Additional Information

Key: Profile Photos Video Audio

Bicknell's Thrush - Catharus bicknelli
Bicknell's thrush breeds in  Quebec and the Maritime provinces in Canada and in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont and northern New York. It winters in Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica, Martinique, and Puerto Rico.
Source: Cornell Lab of Ornithology Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No

Veery - Catharus fuscescens
The veery is found in deciduous forests and river habitats.
Source: Cornell Lab of Ornithology Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No

Veery - Catharus fuscescens
The veery forages on the ground for food. It eats eats insects during the breeding season and fruit and berries in the late summer and fall.
Source: Audubon Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No

Hermit Thrush -Catharus guttatus
East of the Rocky Mountains, the hermit thrush usually builds a nest on the ground. In the West, it is more likely to build a nest in a tree.
Source: Cornell Lab of Ornithology Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No

Hermit Thrush - Catharus guttatus
East of the Rocky Mountains, the hermit thrush usually builds a nest on the ground. In the West, it is more likely to build a nest in a tree.
Source: Audubon Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No

Gray-cheeked Thrush - Catharus minimus
The gray-cheeked thrush breeds in Alaska and northern Canada and winters in South America.
Source: Cornell Lab of Ornithology Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No

Gray-cheeked Thrush - Catharus minimus
The gray-cheeked thrush eats mostly insects like beetles, weevils, ants, wasps and caterpillars, but it also eats spiders, crayfish, worms and fruits and berries.
Source: Audubon Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No

Swainson's Thrush - Catharus ustulatus
Swainson's thrush breeds in spruce and fir forests in Canada and the northern U.S. and winters in tropical forests in Central and South America.
Source: Cornell Lab of Ornithology Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No

Wood Thrush - Hylocichla mustelina
The wood thrush lives in deciduous and mixed forests.
Source: Cornell Lab of Ornithology Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No

Varied Thrush - Ixoreus naevius
The varied thrush is found in western Canada and the western U.S. It is a vagrant in New Hampshire.
Source: Cornell Lab of Ornithology Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No

Eastern Bluebird - Sialia sialis
The Eastern Bluebird is found in open land with scattered trees and other high spots for perching, nesting and hunting. It is often found in parks, gardens, fields and other open areas.
Source: Cornell Lab of Ornithology Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No

American Robin - Turdus migratorius
The American robin lives in open woodlands, fields, gardens, and yards.
Source: Cornell Lab of Ornithology Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No

Orange-billed Nightingale-thrush - Catharus aurantiirostris
The orange-billed nightingale-thrush is found in Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Trinidad and Tobago, and Venezuela.
Source: Cornell Lab of Ornithology Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No

Spotted Nightingale-thrush - Catharus dryas
The spotted nightingale-thrush is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Peru, and Venezuela.
Source: Cornell Lab of Ornithology Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No

Ruddy-capped Nightingale-thrush - Catharus frantzii
The ruddy-capped nightingale-thrush is found in Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, and Panama.
Source: Cornell Lab of Ornithology Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No

Slaty-backed Nightingale-thrush - Catharus fuscater
The slaty-backed nightingale-thrush is found in Bolivia, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Panama, Peru, and Venezuela.
Source: Cornell Lab of Ornithology Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No

Black-billed Nightingale-thrush - Catharus gracilirostris
The black-billed nightingale-thrush is found in Costa Rica and Panama.
Source: Cornell Lab of Ornithology Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No

Black-headed Nightingale-thrush - Catharus mexicanus
The black-headed nightingale-thrush is found in Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, and Panama.
Source: Cornell Lab of Ornithology Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No

Russet Nightingale-thrush - Catharus occidentalis
The russet nightingale-thrush is found in Mexico.
Source: Cornell Lab of Ornithology Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No

Varied Solitaire - Myadestes coloratus
The varied solitaire is found in Colombia and Panama.
Source: Cornell Lab of Ornithology Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No

Cuban Solitaire - Myadestes elisabeth
The Cuban solitaire is found in Cuba.
Source: Cornell Lab of Ornithology Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No

Rufous-throated Solitaire - Myadestes genibarbis
The rufous-throated solitaire is found in Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, the Cayman Islands, Dominica, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica, Martinique, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
Source: Cornell Lab of Ornithology Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No

Olomao - Myadestes lanaiensis
The Olomao is also known as the Moloka`i thrush. It is native to the islands of Maui, Lana'i and Moloka'i in Hawaii.
Source: HBW Alive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No

Black-faced Solitaire - Myadestes melanops
The black-faced solitaire is found in Costa Rica and Panama.
Source: Cornell Lab of Ornithology Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No

Kamao - Myadestes myadestinus
The Kamao is also known as the large Kauai thrush. It was once a common bird on Kaua'i in the Hawaiian Islands, but it may no be extinct.
Source: HBW Alive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No

Omao - Myadestes obscurus
The Omao is also known as the Hawaiian Thrush. It is found on the island of Hawai`i in the Hawaiian Islands.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: Yes

Brown-backed Solitaire - Myadestes occidentalis
The brown-backed solitaire is found in Belize, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Mexico.
Source: Cornell Lab of Ornithology Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No

Puaiohi - Myadestes palmeri
The Puaiohi is found in Kaua`i in the Hawaiian Islands. It is also known as the small Kauai thrush.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: Yes

Townsend's Solitaire - Myadestes townsendi
Townsend's solitaire is found the western U.S. and Canada from Alaska south to Mexico.
Source: Cornell Lab of Ornithology Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No

Townsend's Solitaire - Myadestes townsendi
Townsend's solitaire is usually found alone.
Source: Audubon Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No

Slate-colored Solitaire - Myadestes unicolor
The slate-colored solitaire is found in Belize, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, and Nicaragua.
Source: Cornell Lab of Ornithology Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No

Amaui - Myadestes woahensis
The Amaui was once found on Oahu in the Hawaiian Islands.
Source: Cornell Lab of Ornithology Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No

Mountain Bluebird - Sialia currucoides
The mountain bluebird breeds in high mountain meadows with scattered trees and bushes and short grass. It winters at lower elevations in grasslands.
Source: Cornell Lab of Ornithology Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No

Mountain Bluebird - Sialia currucoides
Sometimes the mountain bluebird migrates alone, but it usually travels in flocks of up to 50 birds.
Source: Audubon Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No

Western Bluebird - Sialia mexicana
The western bluebird is found from southern British Columbia and Alberta, Canada south through the western U.S. into Mexico.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No

White-necked Thrush - Turdus albicollis
The white-necked thrush is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, and Venezuela.
Source: Cornell Lab of Ornithology Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No

Eastern Red-legged Thrush - Turdus ardosiaceus
The eastern red-legged thrush is found in Dominican Republic, Haiti, and Puerto Rico.
Source: HBW Alive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No

White-throated Thrush - Turdus assimilis
The white-throated thrush is found in Mexico and Central America.
Source: Cornell Lab of Ornithology Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No

White-chinned Thrush - Turdus aurantius
The white-chinned thrush is found in Jamaica.
Source: Cornell Lab of Ornithology Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No

San Lucas Robin - Turdus Confinis
The San Lucas robin is found in Baja California, Mexico.
Source: HBW Alive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No

Cocoa Thrush - Turdus fumigatus
The cocoa thrush is found in Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Dominica, French Guiana, Grenada, Guyana, Martinique, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, and Venezuela.
Source: Cornell Lab of Ornithology Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No

Clay-colored Thrush - Turdus grayi
The clay-colored thrush is found in Belize, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, and Panama.
Source: Cornell Lab of Ornithology Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No

Black Thrush - Turdus infuscatus
The black thrush is found in El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico.
Source: Cornell Lab of Ornithology Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No

White-eyed Thrush - Turdus jamaicensis
The white-eyed thrush is found in Jamaica.
Source: Cornell Lab of Ornithology Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No

Forest Thrush - Turdus lherminieri
The forest thrush is found in Dominica, Guadeloupe, Montserrat, and Saint Lucia.
Source: Cornell Lab of Ornithology Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No

Sooty Thrush - Turdus nigrescens
The sooty thrush is found in Costa Rica nd Panama.
Source: Cornell Lab of Ornithology Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No

Spectacled Thrush - Turdus nudigenis
The spectacled thrush is found in Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Brazil, Colombia, Dominica, French Guiana, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guyana, Martinique, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, and Venezuela.
Source: Cornell Lab of Ornithology Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No

Pale-vented Thrush - Turdus obsoletus
The pale-vented thrush is found in Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Panama, and Peru.
Source: Cornell Lab of Ornithology Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No

Mountain Thrush - Turdus plebejus
The mountain thrush is found in Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, and Panama.
Source: Cornell Lab of Ornithology Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No

Red-legged Thrush - Turdus plumbeus
The red-legged thrush is found in the Bahamas.
Source: Cornell Lab of Ornithology Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No

Grand Cayman Thrush - Turdus ravidus
The Grand Cayman thrush was once found in the Cayman Islands.
Source: Cornell Lab of Ornithology Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No

Western Red-legged Thrush - Turdus rubripes
The western red-legged thrush is found in the Cayman Islands and Cuba.
Source: HBW Alive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No

Rufous-collared Thrush - Turdus rufitorques
The rufous-collared thrush is found in El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico.
Source: Cornell Lab of Ornithology Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No

Rufous-backed Thrush - Turdus rufopalliatus
The rufous-backed thrush is native to Mexico.
Source: Cornell Lab of Ornithology Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No

La Selle Thrush - Turdus swalesi
The La Selle thrush is found in the Dominican Republic and Haiti.
Source: Cornell Lab of Ornithology Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No

Aztec Thrush - Ridgwayia pinicola
The Aztec thrush is found in Mexico.
Source: Cornell Lab of Ornithology Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No