• Skip to Content
  • Skip to Main Navigation
  • Skip to Local Navigation
  • Skip to Search
  • Skip to Sitemap
  • Skip to Footer
Help develop a Bird ID tool!

Gray-cheeked Thrush

Catharus minimus ORDER: PASSERIFORMES FAMILY: TURDIDAE

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

Of all the American spotted thrushes, the Gray-cheeked has the most northern breeding range. Consequently this shy skulker of the underbrush is not well known and is rather infrequently seen.

Subscribe to Living Bird Magazine
eBird, submit your observations

Appearance

Thrushes
Thrushes
Typical Voice

Adult Description

  • Medium-sized thrush.
  • Upperparts and tail brownish gray.
  • Plain gray face with some light streaks but no eyering.

Immature Description

Like adult.

Range Map Help

Gray-cheeked Thrush Range Map
View dynamic map of eBird sightings

Field MarksHelp

  • Adult
    Zoom In

    Gray-cheeked Thrush

    Adult
    • © Kevin T. Karlson

Similar Species

  • Bicknell's Thrush very similar and probably not separable in the field.
  • Swainson's Thrush has similar markings and coloring, but face is buffy and it has a distinct buffy eyering.
  • Veery has similar plain face, but it has only weak spotting and is usually more reddish.
  • Hermit Thrush has distinct rufous on tail and wings and an eyering.