Catharus bicknelli
The Bicknell's Thrush (Catharus bicknelli) is a petite and elusive songbird of the family Turdidae, renowned for its distinctive, spiraling song emanating from the highest reaches of northeastern North America's mountains. Measuring 16-18 cm (6.3-7.1 in) in length with a wingspan of approximately 26-28 cm (10-11 in) and weighing 25-30 g (0.9-1.1 oz), it sports a muted olive-brown back that transitions to a grayish crown and nape, with a pale throat and belly speckled with dusky spots on the b...
This species exclusively breeds in high-elevation, dense boreal forests dominated by spruce and fir trees, typically above 800-900 meters (2,600-3,000 feet) in the southern parts of its range. During winter, it inhabits wet, montane forests and shaded coffee plantations in the Greater Antilles, f...
During the breeding season, Bicknell's Thrushes primarily consume insects, including beetles, ants, caterpillars, flies, and spiders, gleaned from foliage or the ground. In late summer, fall, and on their wintering grounds, their diet shifts to include small fruits like elderberries and various t...
Bicknell's Thrushes are notably crepuscular and secretive, most active during dawn and dusk, though they can be heard singing throughout the day in dense fog. They primarily forage by gleaning insects from conifer foliage, especially during the breeding season, often making short hops and aerial ...
The breeding range of the Bicknell's Thrush is restricted to high-elevation montane boreal forests across northeastern North America. This includes the Appalachian Mountains of New York (Adirondacks), Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine, extending north through Quebec, New Brunswick, and Nova Scoti...
Vulnerable
- The Bicknell's Thrush was only recognized as a distinct species from the Gray-cheeked Thrush in 1995, highlighting the subtle differences that ornithologists study. - It is one of North America's rarest and most range-restricted songbirds, breeding almost exclusively in high-elevation spruce-fi...