The gray-cheeked thrush (Catharus minimus) is a medium-sized thrush. This species is in length, and has the white-dark-white underwing pattern characteristic of Catharus thrushes. It is a member of a close-knit group of migrant species together with the veery and Bicknell's thrush; Of all the American spotted thrushes, the gray-cheeked has the most northern breeding range.

Description

thumb|Gray-cheeked thrush in a nest

The gray-cheeked thrush is slightly larger than other Catharus thrushes, about 16 to in height and weighing between 26 and 30g. Wingspan ranges from 12.6-13.4 in (32-34 cm). The bird can be identified by its grayish face, partial pale eyering, drab gray-brown upperside and extensively dusky flanks. The area between the eye and the beak is grayish as well, but the area running from the beak to above the eye is grayish white. C. m. minimus can be distinguished by its overall browner coloration and buffer wash to the breast compared to C. m. aliciae.) and flanks, a lightly washed cream breast and duller lower part of the beak.

Habitat and distribution

The gray-cheeked thrush is a long-distance migrant species with a migration on average of 300 km.

They are present in their breeding ground from May to August. C. minimus remains uncommon to rare in most regions of North America but can be spotted in any wooded habitat. Grey-cheeked thrushes prefer low coniferous woods, including young regenerating forests, open canopy old growth forests having a dense growth of shrubs and small conifers in the understory, and dense, stunted spruce and fir on windblown sites and near the tree line. It resembles a descending spiral like the veery (Catharus fuscescens), but higher, thinner, and nasal with stuttering pauses: "ch-ch zreeew zi-zi-zreeee zizreeew".

  • Gray-cheeked Thrush – Catharus minimus – USGS Patuxent Bird Identification InfoCenter
  • Gray-cheeked Thrush Species Account – Cornell Lab of Ornithology