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Varied Thrush

Ixoreus naevius ORDER: PASSERIFORMES FAMILY: TURDIDAE

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

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Varied Thrush Photo

A large, robin-like thrush of the Pacific Northwest, the Varied Thrush is a characteristic bird of the mature, dark coniferous forests. Wandering individuals turn up regularly far from home, wintering around feeders in the midwestern states.

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Appearance

Thrushes
Thrushes
Typical Voice

Adult Description

  • Large thrush.
  • Burnt orange throat, chest.
  • Dark face mask and back.
  • Dark V-shaped breast band.
  • Buffy orange wingbars and stripe above eye.

Male Description

Back, nape, and crown gray to blue-gray. Throat and breast bright burnt orange. Black to slate-gray V on chest. Buffy orange eyestripe, wingbars, and patches in wings. Bill brown-black; straw-colored at base of lower mandible. Tan legs. Eyes dark. Belly white. Undertail coverts slate gray at base, with white or tawny tips.

Female Description

Upperparts brown to brownish gray. Wing feathers brown. Breast band indistinct brown to gray. Throat and chest burnt orange. Buffy orange eyestripe and wingbars.

Immature Description

Juvenile with brown head and neck tinged with buff. Indistinct orange eyebrow. Throat buff. Breast feathers buff with brown tips. Back and wings brown. Two orange wingbars and orange patches in wing.

Range Map Help

Varied Thrush Range Map
View dynamic map of eBird sightings

Field MarksHelp

  • Male
    Male
    • © Donald Waite/CLO
  • Adult
    Adult
    • © Brian E. Small
  • Male
    Male
    • Large thrush of Pacific Northwest forests
    • Bold black band across rusty-orange breast
    • Black head with orange stripe behind eye
    • Upperparts slaty gray, with orange in wings
    • © John Tubbs/PFW, Snoqualmie, Washington, January 2008
  • Female
    Female
    • Robin-sized thrush of Pacific Northwest forests
    • Female is browner-gray above than male
    • Breast band is gray and muted
    • Orange color is dimmer but pattern similar to male
    • © Bill Corwin, Washougal, Washington, January 2009
  • Female
    Female
    • Female is browner-gray above than male
    • Breast band is gray; underparts less rusty
    • Rarely but regularly seen east of typical range
    • © Lyn Winans/PFW, Minden, Ontario, Canada, December 2006

Similar Species

  • Male

    American Robin

    Male
    • Lives in more open habitats than Varied Thrush
    • Lacks black breast band
    • Head lacks orange eyestripe
    • No orange in wings
    • © birdmandea, Steilacoom, Washington, November 2008

Similar Species

  • American Robin lacks the orange eyestripe, black or gray breastband, and pale wingstripe.