Measurements
Both Sexes
- Length
- 6.7–7.1 in
17–18 cm - Wingspan
- 11–11.4 in
28–29 cm - Weight
- 1–1.9 oz
28–54 g
Other Names
- Grive fauve (French)
- Tordo rojizo (Spanish)
Cool Facts
- Long thought to winter across the northern third of South America, but a recent study indicated that, in fact, the wintering grounds of the Veery are restricted to central and southern Brazil.
- A study of migration using radio telemetry showed that the Veery can fly up to 285 km (160 mi) in one night, and that it can fly at altitudes above 2,000 m (1.2 mi).
Habitat
Forest
Breeds in damp, deciduous forests and riparian habitats. Prefers disturbed forest with denser understory. Also in shrubby habitats with small trees.
Food
Insects
Insects and other arthropods, fruit.
Nesting
Nesting Facts
- Clutch Size
- 1–5 eggs
- Egg Description
- Pale greenish blue, only rarely spotted.
- Condition at Hatching
- Helpless with some sparse down.
Nest Description
Nest a cup of dead leaves, grapevine bark, weed stems, and wet, mud-like leaf mold, lined with fine rootlets and fibers. Placed on ground, at base of or slightly up in small trees.
Nest Placement
Ground
Behavior
Ground Forager
Forages mostly on ground, some flycatching. Flips over dead leaves.
Conservation
Least Concern
Slow decline throughout range.
Credits
- Moskoff, W. 1995. Veery (Catharus fuscescens). In The Birds of North America, No. 142 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, PA, and The American Ornithologists' Union, Washington, D.C.
- Remsen, J. V., Jr. 2001. True winter range of the Veery (Catharus fuscescens): lessons for determining winter ranges of species that winter in the tropics. Auk 118: 838-848.