The Gray-cheeked Thrush is a little-known breeder of the eastern boreal, taiga and adjacent tundra region, with a distribution in Canada that reaches from the Yukon to Newfoundland and Labrador. The Gray-cheeked Thrush formerly included a Bicknell's subspecies; in 1995, the Bicknell's Thrush was recognized as a distinct species. Populations are poorly monitored but limited, long-term Breeding Bird Survey data suggest that the population has experienced a large decrease since 1970. The Gray-cheeked Thrush minimus subspecies, which is only found in Newfoundland and southeastern Labrador (FitzGerald et al. 2017), is currently undergoing assessment by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. This species has been identified as a priority for conservation and/or stewardship in one or more Bird Conservation Region Strategies in Canada.
Habitat changes have likely been more significant on the wintering grounds in northern South America than on the breeding grounds, due to greater overlap with human activities (Lowther et al. 2001). However, Gray-cheeked Thrush often use mature forest habitat on both their breeding and wintering ranges, and there is some concern over the potential loss of this habitat as a result of industrial forestry on the breeding grounds (Dalley et al. 2005). Declines in the C. m. minimus subspecies are thought to relate to winter habitat loss and the introduction of red squirrels to parts of its range (Whitaker et al. 2015, FitzGerald et al. 2017).
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:
Select any of the sub-regions below to view the BCR strategy for additional details.
