Swainson's Thrush
(Catharus ustulatus)

Overview

Summary

© John Reaume
For additional photos and vocalizations, visit Dendroica. (Link opens in a new window.)

The Swainson’s Thrush is an abundant inhabitant of Canada’s coniferous and deciduous forests. The Breeding Bird Survey suggests little change in the national population relative to about 1970, though declines are evident in eastern Canada and on the west coast. Habitat loss and degradation, as well as collisions with towers and buildings, may negatively impact this species and are causes for concern (Mack and Yong 2000). This species has been identified as a priority for conservation and/or stewardship in one or more Bird Conservation Region Strategies in Canada.

Designations

Population status

Population estimate

Distribution maps

• BirdLife International / NatureServe
• Breeding Bird Survey (BBS): Relative Abundance and Breeding Distribution (1993-2012)

Migration strategy, occurrence

Responsibility for conservation of world population

Conservation and management

Though populations appear stable, the Swainson’s Thrush, like many species, is thought to be negatively affected by habitat loss and degradation through logging, clearing for agriculture and urbanization (Mack and Yong 2000). It also appears to be one of the species more susceptible to collisions with towers, buildings and windows during migration (Mack and Yong 2000).

Bird conservation region strategies

Environment and Climate Change Canada and partners have developed Bird Conservation Region Strategies in each of Canada’s Bird Conservation Regions (BCRs). In these strategies, selected species are identified as priorities for one or more of the following reasons:

• conservation concerns (i.e., species vulnerable due to population size, distribution, population trend, abundance, or threats)
• stewardship responsibilities (i.e., species that typify the regional avifauna or have a large proportion of their range or population in the sub-region)
• management concerns (i.e., species that require ongoing management because of their socio-economic importance as game species, or because of their impacts on other species or habitats)
• other concerns (i.e., species deemed a priority by regional experts for other reasons than those listed above or because they are listed as species at risk or concern at the provincial level)

Select any of the sub-regions below to view the BCR strategy for additional details.

References

• Mack, D.E. and W. Yong. 2000. Swainson's Thrush (Catharus ustulatus), The Birds of North America Online (A. Poole, Ed.). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, New York. Mack, D.E. and W. Yong. 2000. Swainson's Thrush (Catharus ustulatus), The Birds of North America Online (A. Poole, Ed.). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, New York. (Link)