From Opus

Catharus ustulatus

Photo by jvhigbee
Spanaway, Washington, USA, September 2005

[edit] Identification

16-18cm

• Brown upperparts (olive-brown on Eastern birds, reddish-brown on Western birds)
• White underparts
• Brown flanks
• Lighter brown breast with darker spots
• Pink legs
• Light brown eye ring
  

[edit] Distribution

Breeds virtually throughout North America from Alaska to California. Wintering in the West Indies, and Central and South America from Mexico to Argentina.

[edit] Taxonomy

Four subspecies are recognised: Russet-backed

• C. u. almae:

• Southern Alaska and western Canada; winters to Gulf Coast of southern US

• C. u. ustulatus:

• Coastal south-eastern Alaska to southern Oregon; winters to western Mexico

• C. u. oedicus:

• Northern Washington to southern California; winters to southern Mexico

• C. u. swainsoni: (Olive-backed):

• Eastern Canada to eastern US; winters to West Indies and northern Argentina

[edit] Habitat

Coniferous and mixed woodland.

[edit] Behaviour

[edit] Diet

The diet includes insects, fruits and berries.

[edit] Breeding

They build a cup nest on a horizontal tree branch.

[edit] References

1. Clements, JF. 2008. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2008. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019. Spreadsheet available at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist.
2. Wikipedia
3. BF Member observations

• List of references

[edit] External Links