Thrushes and thrashers

Family Turdidae

Eastern Bluebird Sialia sialis

Status and abundance: Common year-round resident.

Habitat: Woodland edge, old fields, pastures, and suburban settings.

Records and remarks: Bluebirds undergo extensive migration, but much of it is not obvious because of our large breeding and winter populations. Bluebirds form loose flocks, sometimes numbering into the low dozens but more often less than 10, which are commonly seen perched on fences, utility wires, and on or near the ground in fields. During very cold weather, they will sometimes visit bird feeders for peanut butter, suit and fruit.

SPRING—An influx of spring migrants typically arrives during early to mid-February. Migration is largely over by end of March. Daily counts of 30 to 50 birds are normal.

SUMMER—Nesting begins early. Bluebirds start prospecting nest boxes and natural cavities during warm February days and have eggs by mid- to late March, depending on spring weather conditions. Bluebirds may raise three broods in southern Illinois.

AUTUMN—Fall migration is not well quantified. Most migration probably extends from September through mid-November. Daily high counts can be a bit higher than during spring.

WINTER—In milder winter, numbers of bluebirds can be quite high, whereas in severely cold winters they either leave or die. It is not unusual to find dead bluebirds in nest boxes after severe cold snaps.

Documentation: Specimen—ad. female, Little Grassy Lake, Williamson Co., 18 Feb 1956 (SIU A-235).

[Townsend’s Solitaire Myadestes townsendi]

Status and abundance: Hypothetical.

Records and remarks: One foraging on hawthorn berries at Crab Orchard NWR on 25 January 1979 was seen by one observer (S. Hossler). A written description was made but photos were not secured.

Veery Catharus fuscescens

Late April – Late May

Late August – Late September

Status and abundance: Fairly common spring migrant. Uncommon fall migrant.

Habitat: Mature deciduous woodland.

Records and remarks: Much more frequently detected during spring than fall. They forage on or near the ground in deeply shaded woods, so are difficult to see, but their songs are reasonably far-carrying. During fall, they are very quiet and difficult to locate.

SPRING—Most early arrivals appear during the last few days of April, but some years none are found until May. Migration peaks in early and mid-May. A few may linger into June. Daily high counts rarely exceed a dozen Veeries.

1, Rim Rock, Gallatin Co., 18 Apr 2015 (M. Madsen)

1, Heron Pond, 24 Apr 1973 (VK, HDB)

2, Fort Massac SP, 24 Apr 2013 (KM)

1, Cache River SNA, 25 Apr 2008 (MML)

14, Massac Co., 6 May 1989 (WDR, SO)

1, Dutch Creek, near Jonesboro, Union Co., 8 Jun 1988 (SKR)

SUMMER—One male was caught in a mist-net, Trail of Tears SF, 23 Jun 1992 (L. Jette).

AUTUMN—Difficult to detect, Veery counts nearly always are less than 4 per day during fall. They are usually quiet and unobtrusive birds.

1, Saline Co. CA, 18 Aug 1987 (WDR)

1, Woodlawn, Jefferson Co., 2 Sep 1988 (TF)

1 banded, Carbondale, 27 Sep 1972 (VK)

Documentation: Specimen—ad. male, 2 miles n. of Cobden, Union Co., 9 May 1966 (SIU A-1345).

Gray-cheeked Thrush Catharus minimus

Late April – Late May

Mid-September – Early October

Status and abundance: Fairly common spring migrant. Uncommon fall migrant.

Habitat: Upland and lowland mature deciduous forest.

Records and remarks: Usually forages on the ground in shaded forest, but may also glean insects off tree trunks or large branches up to 30 feet above ground. Much more often detected in spring than fall. Aside from apparently fewer individuals passing through our region during fall (most fly from breeding areas north of us to the Atlantic Coast then move south), they are also very quiet and so very easily overlooked.

SPRING—The first Gray-cheeked Thrushes are usually heard during the last week of April. Migration peaks during early May when counts of less than 15 per day are normal. Most have departed by 20 May.

1, Heron Pond, 22 Apr 2000 (KM)

1, Crab Orchard NWR, 22 Apr 2016 (http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S29118148 )

52, Giant City SP, 12 May 1984 (WDR)

1, Cairo, Alexander Co., 26 May 1988 (WDR)

1, Trail of Tears SF, 30 May 1991 (Robinson and Robinson 1992)

AUTUMN—Very difficult to find during fall. Counts of more than three per day are unusual.

5, Murphysboro, 5 Sep 1949 (RB)

3, Rend Lake, Franklin Co., 30 Sep 1989 (WDR)

1 banded, Carbondale, 7 Oct 1972 (VK)

1, LaRue Pine Hills, 9 Oct 2010 (J. Vandermeulen)

Documentation: Specimen—ad. female, Bald Knob, Union Co., 30 Apr 1966 (SIU A-1344).

Swainson’s Thrush Catharus ustulatus

Late April – Late May

Early September – Mid-October

Status and abundance: Common spring migrant. Uncommon fall migrant.

Habitat: Deciduous woodland and woodland edge.

Records and remarks: The most numerous of the Catharus thrushes during migration, Swainson’s Thrushes forage on the ground and also up into the mid-levels of forest where they sally out to snatch insects off of limbs, tree trunks and leaves. They seem to sing more often than Gray-cheeked Thrushes and Veeries, which increases our ability to find them. Their song, like the song of Wood Thrushes, is one of the great joys of spring in southern Illinois.

SPRING—Numbers of migrants peak in early to mid-May. A few regularly linger into late May and early June. Daily high counts normally range from 20 to 30.

1, Atwood Ridge, Union Co., 13 Apr 2000 (KM)

2, Heron Pond, 14 Apr 2013 (C. Crawford)

57, Massac Co., 5 May 1985 (S. Varsa, WDR)

51, Giant City SP, 6 May 1984 (WDR)

1, Cypress Creek NWR, 2 Jun 2012 (MML)

male singing, Dutch Creek, near Jonesboro, Union Co., 5 Jun 1992 (C. Trine, WDR, SKR)

AUTUMN—Fewer found during fall than spring. High counts of more than 5 are noteworthy. Some calm, clear, fall evenings it may be possible hear Swainson’s Thrushes migrating overhead at night. Their night flight call is very similar to their day-time call notes.

6, Gallatin Co., 15 Sep 2012 (K. Michalski)

6, Crab Orchard NWR, 28 Sep 2016 (R. Paul)

1, Crab Orchard NWR, 9 Oct 1982 (JCR)

Documentation: Specimen—ad. male, Bald Knob, Union Co., 30 Apr 1966 (SIU A-1343).

Hermit Thrush Catharus guttatus

Early October – Mid-April

Status and abundance: Uncommon migrant. Uncommon winter resident in the Shawnee Hills and Floodplains. Occasional to locally uncommon winter resident in the Till Plain.

Habitat: Deciduous forest and forest edge, coniferous thickets, and hedgerows.

Records and remarks: Hermit Thrushes arrive after most other Catharus thrushes have departed from southern Illinois. They forage on fruit and insects in fairly dense thickets. The inconspicuous call note, churk, is easy to miss. Catharus thrushes generally pose identification challenges for many observers, especially when the thrushes are silent. Observers should use caution and attempt to acquire photos to archive in eBird, especially of thrushes detected outside the normal dates of occurrence.

AUTUMN—The first fall migrants arrive behind the first strong cold front during October. During peak passage in late October and November, up to 10 birds seen per day is fairly normal. Over-wintering birds are usually in place by mid-November.

1, Giant City SP, 16 Sep 2016 (DM)

1, Oakwood Bottoms, 29 Sep 2016 (HD)

4, LaRue Pine Hills, 9 Oct 2010 (J. Vandermeulen)

WINTER—Most of our winter population is in the Shawnee Hills. Hermit Thrushes can be difficult to find during winter, especially after December, in the Till Plain even in habitat that seems perfectly suitable.

19, Rend Lake, 20 Dec 2003 (TM, DK)

SPRING—Full migration is underway by mid- to late March with peak numbers passing through during early April. Daily high counts normally do not exceed 7 to 10 birds. The last Hermit Thrushes are normally gone by 20-25 April. Observers should use caution with any May records and are encouraged to archive photos and sound recordings in eBird.

1, Oakwood Bottoms, 8 May 1976 (BP)

Documentation: Specimen—ad. male, Pine Hills, Union Co., 2 Apr 1966 (SIU A-1342).

Wood Thrush Hylocichla mustelina

Mid-April – Early October

Status and abundance: Common migrant and summer resident.

Habitat: Mature deciduous woodland.

Records and remarks: One of the glorious sounds of spring and summer in southern Illinois, Wood Thrush song is most often heard at dawn and dusk. They are prime hosts for Brown-headed Cowbirds, the eggs of which sometimes outnumber Wood Thrush eggs in nests in southern Illinois. One of the remarkable quirks of nature is that Wood Thrushes do not recognize they have been parasitized (or at least do not eject cowbird eggs very often) despite the fact their own eggs are blue and cowbird eggs are white with brown speckling. Parasitized nests produce fewer thrushes than cowbirds, so it is not terribly surprising that Wood Thrush populations have been declining for a long time.

SPRING—First arrivals normally appear around 20 April, occasionally considerably earlier. Daily high counts in excellent habitat may still surpass 50 birds, despite the challenges Wood Thrushes face from cowbirds.

1, Massac Co., 28 Mar 2002 (FB)

1, Carbondale, 29 Mar 1979 (D. Klem)

SUMMER—Nest building begins soon after arrival in early to mid-May. Of 345 nests in Alexander and Union Counties, 89 percent were parasitized by cowbirds (INHS).

AUTUMN—As with many other breeding species, Wood Thrushes seem to just disappear after the breeding season is over. Many probably head to their Central American wintering grounds during late summer. They become rather quiet after mid-July. Unless their distinctive, yet infrequently given, scolding call note is heard, they seem to be silent otherwise. A few linger into October.

2, LaRue Pine Hills, 9 Oct 2010 (J. Vandermeulen)

1, Carbondale, 16 Oct 1971 (VK)

Documentation: Specimen—ad. male, Carbondale, Jackson Co., 25 May 1965 (SIU A-1341).

American Robin Turdus migratorius

Status and abundance: Common year-round resident, although sometimes uncommon winter resident in the Till Plain.

Habitat: Residential areas, open woodland, and woodland edge. During migration and winter can be found in bare and short-grass agricultural fields as well.

Records and remarks: A familiar species to all. Extensively migratory and highly gregarious during the two migration periods and winter.

SPRING—Northward movements begin very early, usually during January unless winter conditions are severe. Peak numbers pass through during late Feb and early March. Daily counts of 200 to 400 birds are normal.

SUMMER—Nests are placed from 3 to 60 feet up in trees, on buildings, and nearly anywhere that might support a nest. Robins vigorously defend their nests and, unlike Wood Thrushes, which also have blue eggs, are hardly ever parasitized by cowbirds. Robins often raise two, sometimes three broods.

AUTUMN—Fall migration may start during August when flocks of 40 to 50 birds begin to form. Peak movements occur in Oct and Nov. Flocks in the low hundreds are not that unusual to discover during a day of birding. One massive migratory movement was seen at Mt. Vernon, Jefferson Co., 19 Oct 1987 (TF) when 300,000 robins were observed flying overhead on their way south.

WINTER—Robins forage on fruit when ground is frozen, otherwise they forage on the ground for earthworms and other arthropods. When deep snow covers the ground they will sometimes to venture to bird feeders, even consuming corn.

8,000, Rend Lake, 15 Dec 2001 (DK)

15,000, Tilden, Randolph Co., 11 Jan 2009 (TD)

Documentation: Specimen—male, 5 miles w. of Carterville, Williamson Co., 31 Mar 1959 (SIU A-753).

Family Mimidae

Gray Catbird Dumetella carolinensis

Late April - Late October

Status and abundance: Common migrant and summer resident.

Rare winter visitor.

Habitat: Brushy areas along woodland edge, riparian brush, and, especially in the Till Plain, residential areas.

Records and remarks: Gray Catbirds appear to be more numerous in the Floodplains and the Till Plain than in the Shawnee Hills. They are common in swampy second-growth understory thickets, especially near water.

SPRING—Song is usually the first indication that catbirds have arrived in spring. They often whisper their songs for the first few days after spring arrival. The first arrivals typically appear in late April, peak numbers pass through in early and mid-May, and the last migrants have probably departed by late May, although the precise dates are obscured by the breeding population.

1, Massac Co., 27 Mar 2002 (FB)

1, Oakwood Bottoms, Jackson Co., 17 Apr 1991 (KM)

30, Massac Co., 5 May 1984 (S. Varsa, WDR)

SUMMER—Catbirds usually place their robin-like nests less than 15 feet above ground in shrubs. The nesting season extends from late April through August. Brewer (1955) measured the territory size of catbirds at Pomona to be between 0.16 and 0.36 acres. Little is known about the impact of cowbirds on catbirds in the region; but Catbirds are apparently rarely parasitized.

AUTUMN—Fall migration is usually rather inconspicuous. Daily high counts are typically from four or five birds. The last migrants are usually gone by late October, but some probably linger

later almost every year. A few even linger into the period of the Christmas Bird Count in December.

5, Rend Lake, Franklin Co., 30 Sep 1989 (WDR)

1, Murphysboro, 29 Oct 1949 (RB)

1, Massac Co., 1 Nov 1989 (TF)

1, Oakwood Bottoms, 12 Dec 2015 (HD)

WINTER—Winter birds are usually found in hedgerows and dense thickets. Most records are from Christmas Bird Counts when observer effort is high.

1, Massac Co., 31 Dec 2004 (KMc)

1, Baldwin Lake, 7 Jan 2017 (D. Hewett)

1, Baldwin Lake, 18 Jan 2009 (TD)

Documentation: Specimen—ad. female, Jackson Co., 24 May 1975 (SIU A-1901).

Curve-billed Thrasher Toxostoma curvirostre

Status and abundance: Very rare winter visitor.

Records and remarks: We have one record of this thrasher, which is typically found in the southwestern United States and Mexico. An adult was found in a dense hedgerow at the Silo Access Area near Rend Lake, Jefferson Co., on 16 Dec 1992 (TF, JD). It remained there at least through 24 Jan 1993 and was seen by dozens of birders (Fink 1993a).

Documentation: Photograph—Above record published in Robinson (1996:242).

Brown Thrasher Toxostoma rufum

Status and abundance: Common migrant and summer resident. Occasional winter resident in the Till Plain. Uncommon winter resident in the Shawnee Hills and the Floodplains.

Habitat: Brushy woodland edge, hedgerows, and old fields with briar patches and bushes.

Records and remarks: Brown Thrashers are hedgerow specialists. They are common in non-forest habitats in which dense shrubbery and thickets predominate. Their song is similar to songs of Northern Mockingbird, yet the phrases are uttered in pairs rather than in groups of three or more.

SPRING—Migration appears to occur in two episodes. A few arrive very early, often in late February and early March, but the largest pulse of arrivals does not appear until late March. The earliest group may be mostly the breeding population, and the latter may mostly include migrants heading north of our region. Peak numbers of thrashers are present during April and early May. Daily high counts in excellent habitat can produce 40 to 50 birds.

SUMMER—Thrashers begin nesting soon after their arrival in March. Egg dates range from early April through July. They are occasionally parasitized by cowbirds, but they are poor hosts, rarely raising cowbird young successfully.

AUTUMN—The beginning of fall migration is obscured by the breeding population, but noticeable increases in numbers of thrashers occur in early September. Daily high counts of ten to fifteen birds are typical. Most of the migrants have departed by mid- to late October, but a few are regularly encountered into December. Lingering thrashers may be late migrants or winter residents.

WINTER—Brown Thrashers successfully overwinter in most years, but they are decidedly scarce during severe winters. They are most numerous in the extreme southern tier of counties. Daily high counts are normally of 3 or fewer birds.

8, Union Co. CA, 21 Dec 2001 (VK)

5, Union Co. CA, 29 Dec 2014 (DM)

2, Giant City SP, 21 Feb 1983 (JCR)

Documentation: Specimen—ad. male, Crab Orchard NWR, Williamson Co., 11 Apr 1956 (SIU A-243).

Northern Mockingbird Mimus polyglottos

Status and abundance: Common year-round resident.

Habitat: Brushy hedgerows, woodland edge, and residential areas.

Records and remarks: During summer, Mockingbirds are most numerous in the Till Plain, where there seems to be at least one pair in every hedgerow. They are also common in the Shawnee Hills and the Floodplain, but not to the same degree. There is some migration, but it is often difficult to detect.

SPRING—Spring movements seem to begin in mid-March and extend through April, whereas fall migration is more protracted, extending from late August through early November. Daily high counts during spring and summer normally are less than 40 birds.

SUMMER—Nests are placed in dense bushes. Egg laying begins by early April, and the last young are fledged during August. Mockingbirds may be double-brooded in the region. They are not successfully parasitized by cowbirds. Mockingbirds are famous for vigorously attacking cats and anyone who approaches their nests.

WINTER—The region's resident population is supplemented by migrants from the north. Mockingbirds are territorial even in winter. They will vigorously defend berry-producing bushes against all other birds. Typical daily high counts are less than 15 birds.

Documentation: Specimen—ad. male, Crab Orchard NWR, Williamson Co., 15 May 1968 (SIU A-1712).