Swainson's Thrush

Catharus ustulatus

Introduction

This small thrush is a shy denizen of montane fir forest, and is found across much of North America, wintering in Central America and south to Peru.

Swainson's Thrush is only very rarely encountered in Britain & Ireland, mostly in late autumn (from September to the first half of October).

Key Stats

Status

Very rare

Weight

31.5g

Seasonality

<1%

BTO Records

260 records

Population and distribution stats for:

No data

No current data

No current data

No data

No current data

No current data

Status and Trends

Population size, trends and patterns of distribution based on BTO and partnership surveys and atlasses with data collected by BTO volunteers.

Conservation Status

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This species can be found on the following statutory and conservation listings and schedules.

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (global)

Least Concern

Schedule 1 Licence required (to disturb)*

Birds Directive Annex 1

* A guide only. Check details with the original legislation, especially those marked with an asterisk. See About Birdfacts for more information.

Population Size

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BOU Category

Source

First Record*

Skokholm, 1967 (Mayo, 1956)

* First documented occurrence. Most species undoubtedly occurred before this. See About Birdfacts for more information.

Population Change

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Population trends of this scarce species are not routinely monitored.

Distribution

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This vagrant is too rarely reported to map distribution. Most records of this Transatlantic vagrant are on the Western Isles, Northern Isles and Scilly Isles.

Distribution Change

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This vagrant is too rarely reported to map distribution change.

Seasonality

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Swainson's Thrush is a very rare vagrant, with a handful of records in autumn.

Weekly pattern of occurrence

The graph shows when the species is present in the UK, with taller bars indicating a higher likelihood of encountering the species in appropriate regions and habitats.

Phenology graph — Weekly occurrence patterns (shaded cells and reporting rates (vertical bars) based on BirdTrack data. Reporting rates give the likelihood of encountering the species each week.

Movement

Information about Swainson's Thrush movements and migration based on online bird portals (e.g. BirdTrack), Ringing schemes and tracking studies.

Britain & Ireland movement

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View a summary of recoveries in the Online Ringing Report

Foreign locations of birds ringed or recovered in Britain & Ireland

Dots show the foreign destinations of birds ringed in Britain & Ireland, and the origins of birds ringed overseas that were subsequently recaptured, resighted or found dead in Britain & Ireland. Dot colours indicate the time of year that the species was present at the location.

Winter (Nov-Feb)
Spring (Mar-Apr)
Summer (May-Jul)
Autumn (Aug-Oct)

Foreign locations of birds ringed or recovered in Britain & Ireland

European movements

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EuroBirdPortal uses birdwatcher's records, such as those logged in BirdTrack to map the flows of birds as they arrive and depart Europe. See maps for this species here.

Biology

Lifecycle and body size information for Swainson's Thrush, including statistics on nesting, eggs and lifespan based on BTO ringing and nest recording data.

Survival and Longevity

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Survival is shown as the proportion of birds surviving from one year to the next and is derived from bird ringing data. It can also be used to estimate how long birds typically live.

View number ringed each year in the Online Ringing Report.

Classification, names and codes

Taxonomy, names and species codes for Swainson's Thrush

Classification and Codes

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Order: Passeriformes
Family: Turdidae
Scientific name: Catharus ustulatus
Authority: Nuttall, 1840

BTO 5-letter code: SWATH
Euring code number: 11770

Alternate species names

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Catalan: griveta de Swainson
Czech: drozd malý
Danish: Olivenskovdrossel
Dutch: Dwerglijster
Estonian: kuuserästas
Finnish: korpirastas
French: Grive à dos roussâtre

German: Zwergmusendrossel
Hungarian: flótázó fülemülerigó
Icelandic: Moldþröstur
Irish: Smólach Swainson
Italian: Tordo di Swainson
Latvian: brillu strazds
Lithuanian: alyvinis trumpasnapis strazdas
Norwegian: Brunkinnskogtrost

Polish: drozdek okularowy
Portuguese: tordo-dos-pântanos
Slovak: drozd olivový
Slovenian: smrekov cikovtnik
Spanish: Zorzalito quemado
Swedish: beigekindad skogstrast
Welsh: Brych Swainson

More Evidence

More evidence from Conservation Evidence.com

Partners

Birdfacts is based on data collected by volunteers participating in surveys that are organised and funded by BTO, RSPB, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, JNCC and other partners.