THRUSHES

Bicknell’s Thrush

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Catharus bicknelli

The Bicknell's Thrush is a small thrush, with a straight, rather short bill and medium-length tail. It is one of North America's rarest and most localized breeders, that inhabits coniferous mountain tops and disturbed habitats of the Northeast. 

Both sexes are identical and are roughly the same size, although the males average slightly larger in wing length.

Adults are olive-brown to brownish on the upperparts (head, nape, back) contrasting with chestnut-tinged tail. The contrast is, however, less evident in worn plumage.

The underparts are off-white with gray on the flanks. The breast is off-white with buffy wash, showing dusky spots that becomes more diffuse toward the sides and the lower breast. They have pink legs, a faint gray eye ring, and gray cheeks. Two third of lower mandible is yellow colored, while tip of lower mandible and upper mandible is blackish.

The Bicknell's thrush is just slightly smaller than the other northern migratory Catharus thrushes, with an average length of approximately 6.7 inches and a weight ranging generally from 26 - 30 grams.

CALL: A rather harsh "veer" or "queep". The nocturnal flight call is similar and generally higher in pitch than that of Gray-cheeked Thrush. Agitated birds on the nesting grounds sometimes give growling or fussing calls. Adults give a soft single or double "chuk" as a contact call.

SONG: Males (occasionally females) sing a four-phrased, fluting song with a whirling quality. The last phrase rises in pitch (or remains the same in pitch).

Feeds on insects, spiders, earthworms, and other small creatures. They will also consume fruits and berries.

Found in high-elevation forests near the treeline, usually dominated by balsam fir. Such habitats are scattered and uncommon in their breeding range.

Southeastern Quebec to Nova Scotia and the sky islands of northern New England and New York state.

The nest is usually placed relatively low in a small fir tree, between 2 and 12 feet from the ground. The nest is made of grasses, bits of bark, moss, and mud.

The female lays between 3 and 6 bluish-green eggs with light brown speckling. The female alone incubates the eggs for 9 - 14 days. Both parents help to feed the young upon hatching.

SOURCES:
https://en.wikipedia.org
https://www.allaboutbirds.org
https://www.sdakotabirds.com