Silhouette: Sharon Wegner-Larsen · PhyloPic

Swainson's Thrush

Q: What are the chances of seeing a Swainson's Thrush in Washington?

Rare. Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Swainson's Thrush sighting in Washington on a given day, based on 4,206 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 86th most-seen of the 267 birds we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 10%, and over a week to about 30%, if each day is a fresh chance.

Q: When is the best time to see a Swainson's Thrush in Washington?

May. In that month about 20% of wildlife watchers report a Swainson's Thrush in Washington on a given day, against under 5% in June–August and November–April, the lowest months.

Q: What time of day is best to see a Swainson's Thrush?

Between 8 and 11 am. Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Swainson's Thrush sightings with a recorded time, and about 9 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.

Q: Is Washington the best place to see a Swainson's Thrush?

18th of 42. Of the 42 cities where we can rate Swainson's Thrush sightings, Washington ranks 18th at under 5%. The best odds are in Quito (Ecuador, about 20%), Chicago (United States, about 20%) and Bogota (Colombia, about 10%).

Q: Where does the Swainson's Thrush sighting chance come from?

GBIF citizen-science records. It is estimated from how often the Swainson's Thrush is recorded against all the birds logged in Washington (4,206 verified sightings), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.

Catharus ustulatus

Silhouette: Sharon Wegner-Larsen · PhyloPic

LCLeast ConcernNTVUENCR

KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
PhylumChordata (Chordates)
ClassAves (Birds)
OrderPasseriformes (Perching Birds)
FamilyTurdidae (Thrushes)
GenusCatharus (Brown Thrushes and Nightingale-Thrushes)
SpeciesCatharus ustulatus (Swainson's Thrush)

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

at Washington

In 3 days ~10% in a week ~30%

4,206 Verified sightings at Washington

32,902 In all 100 parks From 2019 to 2026

May Best month

☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted

About the Swainson's Thrush

Swainson's thrush (Catharus ustulatus), also called olive-backed thrush, russet-backed thrush, and salmonberry bird is a medium-sized thrush. It is a member of genus Catharus and is typical of it in terms of its subdued coloration and beautiful, ascending flute-like voice. Swainson's thrush was named after William Swainson, an English ornithologist.

The genus name Catharus comes from the Ancient Greek katharos, "pure or clean" and refers to the plumage of the orange-billed nightingale-thrush C. aurantiirostris. The specific ustulatus is Latin for "burnt", from urere, "to burn".

The breeding habitat of Swainson's thrush is coniferous woods with dense undergrowth across Canada, Alaska, and the northern United States; also, deciduous wooded areas on the Pacific coast of North America. These birds migrate to southern Mexico and as far south as Argentina. The coastal subspecies migrate down the Pacific coast of North America and winter from Mexico to Costa Rica, whereas the continental birds migrate eastwards within North America (a substantial detour) and then travel southwards via Florida to winter from Panama to Bolivia. Swainson... Wikipedia →

Sounds

Song0:28

United States · 2026

Call0:11

United States · 2024

Nocturnal flight call0:07

Canada · 2023

Global Distribution

Where it is recorded most Our parks where it lives Our cities where it livesIn captivity: 2 zoos & centres

Parks Where Found

#	Park	Country	Daily sighting probability
1	Nahanni National Park	🇨🇦 Canada	~70%
2	Gros Morne National Park	🇨🇦 Canada	~60%
3	Glacier National Park	🇺🇸 United States	~60%
4	Denali National Park	🇺🇸 United States	~50%
5	Wrangell-St. Elias National Park	🇺🇸 United States	~40%
6	Jasper National Park	🇨🇦 Canada	~30%
7	Isle Royale National Park	🇺🇸 United States	~30%
8	Banff National Park	🇨🇦 Canada	~30%
9	El Triunfo	🇲🇽 Mexico	~30%
10	Pacific Rim National Park Reserve	🇨🇦 Canada	~30%
11	Grand Teton National Park	🇺🇸 United States	~30%
12	Point Pelee National Park	🇨🇦 Canada	~30%
13	Redwood National Park	🇺🇸 United States	~30%
14	Kluane National Park	🇨🇦 Canada	~20%
15	Amboró National Park	🇧🇴 Bolivia	~20%
16	Riding Mountain National Park	🇨🇦 Canada	~20%
17	Tikal National Park	🇬🇹 Guatemala	~20%
18	Great Bear Rainforest	🇨🇦 Canada	~20%
19	Olympic National Park	🇺🇸 United States	~20%
20	Farallones de Cali National Natural Park	🇨🇴 Colombia	~20%
21	Santa Rosa National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~20%
22	La Amistad International Park (Panama)	🇵🇦 Panama	~20%
23	Bastimentos Island National Marine Park	🇵🇦 Panama	~20%
24	Rincón de la Vieja National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~20%
25	Podocarpus National Park	🇪🇨 Ecuador	~10%
26	La Tigra National Park	🇭🇳 Honduras	~10%
27	Elk Island National Park	🇨🇦 Canada	~10%
28	Tenorio Volcano National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~10%
29	Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~10%
30	Celaque National Park	🇭🇳 Honduras	~10%
31	Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~10%
32	Calakmul Biosphere Reserve	🇲🇽 Mexico	~10%
33	Cahuita National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~10%
34	Kenai Fjords National Park	🇺🇸 United States	~10%
35	Pico Bonito National Park	🇭🇳 Honduras	~10%
36	Chirripó National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~10%
37	Cañón del Sumidero National Park	🇲🇽 Mexico	~10%
38	Chagres National Park	🇵🇦 Panama	~10%
39	Biotopo Cerro Cahuí	🇬🇹 Guatemala	~10%
40	Volcán Barú National Park	🇵🇦 Panama	~10%
41	Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary	🇧🇿 Belize	~10%
42	Cape Breton Highlands National Park	🇨🇦 Canada	~10%
43	Sierra de la Macarena National Park	🇨🇴 Colombia	~10%
44	Soberanía National Park	🇵🇦 Panama	~10%
45	Wood Buffalo National Park	🇨🇦 Canada	~10%
46	Arenal Volcano National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~10%
47	San Lorenzo Protected Forest	🇵🇦 Panama	~10%
48	Yellowstone National Park	🇺🇸 United States	~10%
49	Braulio Carrillo National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~10%
50	Tapantí-Macizo de la Muerte National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~10%
51	Parque Natural Metropolitano	🇵🇦 Panama	~10%
52	Tortuguero National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~10%
53	Los Quetzales National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~10%
54	Corcovado National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~10%
55	Acadia National Park	🇺🇸 United States	~10%
56	Piedras Blancas National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~10%
57	Carara National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~10%
58	Arrecifes de Cozumel National Park	🇲🇽 Mexico	~10%
59	Cerro Azul Meámbar National Park	🇭🇳 Honduras	~10%
60	Katmai National Park	🇺🇸 United States	<5%
61	Voyageurs National Park	🇺🇸 United States	<5%
62	Great Smoky Mountains National Park	🇺🇸 United States	<5%
63	Montes Azules Biosphere Reserve	🇲🇽 Mexico	<5%
64	Los Nevados National Natural Park	🇨🇴 Colombia	<5%
65	Manu National Park	🇵🇪 Peru	<5%
66	Cusuco National Park	🇭🇳 Honduras	<5%
67	Darién National Park	🇵🇦 Panama	<5%
68	Celestún Biosphere Reserve	🇲🇽 Mexico	<5%
69	Poás Volcano National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
70	Marino Ballena National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
71	Manuel Antonio National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
72	Rocky Mountain National Park	🇺🇸 United States	<5%
73	Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve	🇲🇽 Mexico	<5%
74	Channel Islands National Park	🇺🇸 United States	<5%
75	Tambopata National Reserve	🇵🇪 Peru	<5%
76	Irazú Volcano National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
77	Chingaza National Natural Park	🇨🇴 Colombia	<5%
78	Lago de Yojoa	🇭🇳 Honduras	<5%
79	Shenandoah National Park	🇺🇸 United States	<5%
80	Death Valley National Park	🇺🇸 United States	<5%
81	Congaree National Park	🇺🇸 United States	<5%
82	Badlands National Park	🇺🇸 United States	<5%
83	Yasuní National Park	🇪🇨 Ecuador	<5%
84	Machalilla National Park	🇪🇨 Ecuador	<5%
85	Tayrona National Natural Park	🇨🇴 Colombia	<5%
86	Big Bend National Park	🇺🇸 United States	<5%
87	Palo Verde National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
88	Cabo Blanco Absolute Nature Reserve	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
89	Padre Island National Seashore	🇺🇸 United States	<5%
90	Chapada dos Guimarães National Park	🇧🇷 Brazil	<5%
91	Joshua Tree National Park	🇺🇸 United States	<5%
92	Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks	🇺🇸 United States	<5%
93	Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge	🇺🇸 United States	<5%
94	Las Baulas Marine National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
95	Masaya Volcano National Park	🇳🇮 Nicaragua	<5%
96	Ciénaga de Zapata	🇨🇺 Cuba	<5%
97	Everglades National Park	🇺🇸 United States	<5%
98	Yosemite National Park	🇺🇸 United States	<5%
99	Big Cypress National Preserve	🇺🇸 United States	<5%
100	Saguaro National Park	🇺🇸 United States	<5%

Cities Where Found

#	City	Country	Daily sighting probability
1	Quito	🇪🇨 Ecuador	~20%
2	Chicago	🇺🇸 United States	~20%
3	Bogota	🇨🇴 Colombia	~10%
4	Vancouver	🇨🇦 Canada	~10%
5	Medellín	🇨🇴 Colombia	~10%
6	Dallas	🇺🇸 United States	~10%
7	New York City	🇺🇸 United States	~10%
8	Detroit	🇺🇸 United States	~10%
9	Havana	🇨🇺 Cuba	~10%
10	San José	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~10%

Zoos & Centres Where Found

#	Zoo / Centre	Country
1	National Zoological Park	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
2	Ralph Perkins II Wildlife Center and Woods Garden	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity

Closest Relatives at Washington

Catharus guttatus

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Catharus fuscescens

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Catharus minimus

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Turdus migratorius

Daily sighting probability ~80% · Very likely

Sialia sialis

Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible

Hylocichla mustelina

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Cardinalis cardinalis

Daily sighting probability ~90% · Very likely

Thryothorus ludovicianus

Daily sighting probability ~80% · Very likely

Cyanocitta cristata

Daily sighting probability ~70% · Very likely

Corvus brachyrhynchos

Daily sighting probability ~70% · Very likely

Baeolophus bicolor

Daily sighting probability ~60% · Likely

Passer domesticus

Daily sighting probability ~60% · Likely

See all 12 relatives Show fewer

Before you go

What are the chances of seeing a Swainson's Thrush in Washington?

Rare

Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Swainson's Thrush sighting in Washington on a given day, based on 4,206 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 86th most-seen of the 267 birds we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 10%, and over a week to about 30%, if each day is a fresh chance.

When is the best time to see a Swainson's Thrush in Washington?

May

In that month about 20% of wildlife watchers report a Swainson's Thrush in Washington on a given day, against under 5% in June–August and November–April, the lowest months.

What time of day is best to see a Swainson's Thrush?

Between 8 and 11 am

Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Swainson's Thrush sightings with a recorded time, and about 9 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.

Is Washington the best place to see a Swainson's Thrush?

18th of 42

Of the 42 cities where we can rate Swainson's Thrush sightings, Washington ranks 18th at under 5%. The best odds are in Quito (Ecuador, about 20%), Chicago (United States, about 20%) and Bogota (Colombia, about 10%).

Where does the Swainson's Thrush sighting chance come from?

GBIF citizen-science records

It is estimated from how often the Swainson's Thrush is recorded against all the birds logged in Washington (4,206 verified sightings), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.

← Back to Washington

Swainson's Thrush

About the Swainson's Thrush

Sounds

Recent sightings of Swainson's Thrush in Washington

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found

Cities Where Found

Zoos & Centres Where Found

Closest Relatives at Washington

Hermit Thrush

Veery

Gray-cheeked Thrush

American Robin

Eastern Bluebird

Wood Thrush

Northern Cardinal

Carolina Wren

Blue Jay

American Crow

Tufted Titmouse

House Sparrow

Before you go

What are the chances of seeing a Swainson's Thrush in Washington?

When is the best time to see a Swainson's Thrush in Washington?

What time of day is best to see a Swainson's Thrush?

Is Washington the best place to see a Swainson's Thrush?

Where does the Swainson's Thrush sighting chance come from?