Thrush vs Varied Thrush - Birdbuddy WIKI

Thrush

Turdidae

How to recognise a thrush?

General appearance

Thrushes are songbirds known for their brown to blue-grey upperparts and white underparts often with spots or markings. They have medium to long tails, and their size varies from small to medium. Some species have orange or red underwings, visible in flight.

Male vs female

In many thrush species, males and females have similar plumage, making it difficult to distinguish between them. However, in some species, males may have more vivid coloration or distinctive markings compared to females. There's often sexual dimorphism in size, with males being slightly larger.

Juvenile

Juvenile thrushes can resemble their parents, but they usually have duller plumage and less clear markings or spots. They may also be slightly smaller in size until full maturity. Their bills tend to be shorter and their feathers softer and fluffier.

Size

5.7 - 13.0 in/0.8 - 5.9 oz

Habitat

Primary habitat

Thrushes typically inhabit wooded areas and forests in temperate regions, often gravitating towards dense undergrowth and shrubs.

Additional range

Their range may extend to gardens, parks, and similar urban spaces. Some species adapt to arctic and alpine conditions.

Range Map

What do thrushes like to eat?

Natural diet

Thrushes primarily consume insects, worms, and other invertebrates. They forage on the ground and are known for their ability to find earthworms by sight and sound. In the summer, their diet is rich in protein sources like caterpillars, beetles, and spiders. During autumn and winter, thrushes adapt to the availability of food by eating more fruits and berries, such as holly, rowan, and blackberries.

Bird feeders

At bird feeders, thrushes are less commonly seen than other birds, but they may consume suet and various seeds if available. They are also attracted to raisins, sultanas, and chopped apples. Providing a variety of fruits can attract them, especially in colder months when natural food is scarcer.

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Varied Thrush

Ixoreus naevius

How to recognise a varied thrush?

General appearance

The Varied Thrush is about the size of a Robin, measuring between 9-10 inches (23-25 cm). Distinctive features include an orange throat and eyebrow, a dark chest band, and extensive orange markings on the wings. The bird has a black, blue, brown, and gray coloration. Lastly, its tail shape can vary between rounded to square-tipped.

Male vs female

The male and female Varied Thrush have slight distinctions. The female is duller than the male in terms of coloration. While both sexes have the same varying palette of black, blue, brown, gray, and orange, the female's upperparts are conspicuously paler in comparison.

Juvenile

Juvenile Varied Thrushes exhibit mottling on their chests, but their wing pattern is identical to that of adults. Despite not having fully adopted their adult colorations, the orange wing markings are already prominent, aiding in their identification in the wild.

Size

7.5 - 10.4 in/2.3 - 3.5 oz

Habitat

Primary habitat

The varied thrush breeds in coniferous forests, typically dense, wet coastal areas with fir, hemlock, and spruce trees.

Additional range

During migration and winter, it favors coniferous woods but is adaptable, occupying undergrowth in other forests, especially near streams.

Range Map

What do varied thrushes like to eat?

Natural diet

The varied thrush primarily feeds on insects and berries. During summer, it consumes a wide variety of insects such as beetles, ants, caterpillars, crickets, and many others. It also includes millipedes, sowbugs, snails, earthworms, spiders, and other invertebrates in its diet. In winter, the diet shifts mostly to berries and wild fruits, supplemented by seeds and acorns.

Bird feeders

The varied thrush is less commonly seen at bird feeders compared to other birds. However, when visiting feeders, it may consume similar items to those in its natural diet, such as seeds and fruits.

What does a varied thrush sound like?

The varied thrush typically communicates with buzz and chirp-like calls, along with trill and whistle sounds. Its song primarily consists of 2 or 3 buzzy whistles, which are drawn out until they naturally fade away, interrupted by short moments of silence in between. The bird's call often has a low 'took' sound, in a pattern that remains flat. Overall, the varied thrush’s vocalizations exhibit a blend of trills, whistles, buzzes, and low, flat calls.

Song

Audio by Paul Marvin

/ CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

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Thrush

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Varied Thrush

Thrush

Turdidae

General appearance

Thrushes are songbirds known for their brown to blue-grey upperparts and white underparts often with spots or markings. They have medium to long tails, and their size varies from small to medium. Some species have orange or red underwings, visible in flight.

Male vs female

In many thrush species, males and females have similar plumage, making it difficult to distinguish between them. However, in some species, males may have more vivid coloration or distinctive markings compared to females. There's often sexual dimorphism in size, with males being slightly larger.

Juvenile

Juvenile thrushes can resemble their parents, but they usually have duller plumage and less clear markings or spots. They may also be slightly smaller in size until full maturity. Their bills tend to be shorter and their feathers softer and fluffier.

Size

5.7 - 13.0 in/0.8 - 5.9 oz

There's more to learn about Thrush

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Varied Thrush

Ixoreus naevius

General appearance

The Varied Thrush is about the size of a Robin, measuring between 9-10 inches (23-25 cm). Distinctive features include an orange throat and eyebrow, a dark chest band, and extensive orange markings on the wings. The bird has a black, blue, brown, and gray coloration. Lastly, its tail shape can vary between rounded to square-tipped.

Male vs female

The male and female Varied Thrush have slight distinctions. The female is duller than the male in terms of coloration. While both sexes have the same varying palette of black, blue, brown, gray, and orange, the female's upperparts are conspicuously paler in comparison.

Juvenile

Juvenile Varied Thrushes exhibit mottling on their chests, but their wing pattern is identical to that of adults. Despite not having fully adopted their adult colorations, the orange wing markings are already prominent, aiding in their identification in the wild.

Size

7.5 - 10.4 in/2.3 - 3.5 oz

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How to tell the Thrush from the Varied Thrush

Visual differences

Thrushes vary in size (5.7-13 inches), with brown to blue-grey upperparts and spotted white underparts. They have medium to long tails and may show orange or red underwings in flight. In contrast, the Varied Thrush (9-10 inches) features an orange throat and eyebrows, a dark chest band, and pronounced orange wing markings, with a mix of black, blue, brown, and gray plumage. Thrushes generally have softer, less contrasting colors, whereas Varied Thrushes exhibit more vivid and distinctive markings, aiding in easier identification.

Key differences and behavior

Thrushes, encompassing 174 species, are migratory songbirds primarily found in wooded temperate regions. They forage mainly on the ground, consuming insects and adapting their diet to seasonal fruit availability. Their elaborate courtship involves singing and food presentation, with both parents caring for the chicks in cup-shaped nests. In contrast, the Varied Thrush, native to dense coniferous forests in coastal areas, aggressively defends feeders and establishes small territories. During breeding, males sing to defend territories, while females handle nesting. Both species shift diets with the seasons, focusing on insects and berries but differ in habitat preference and territorial behavior. Thrushes frequently forage in urban spaces, whereas Varied Thrush prefers coniferous woods near streams. Both are rarely seen at feeders but enjoy similar food items, underscoring their adaptability.