The grey cheeked thrush (Catharus minimus) is a medium-sized thrush species found across northern parts of North America and Eurasia. They are primarily migratory birds, breeding in northern forests during the summer months and migrating south to more temperate regions for the winter. Grey cheeked thrushes can be identified by their grey heads and faces, with a bold eye ring and spotted underparts. They are highly secretive birds, preferring dense undergrowth in forest habitats. Their range covers a broad swath of the northern latitudes across two continents.
Breeding Range
The grey cheeked thrush breeds across the boreal forests of Canada, Alaska, and Eurasia.
In North America
, their breeding range extends from:
- Alaska across mainland Canada to Labrador and Newfoundland
- South through the mountainous regions of western Canada to British Columbia
- Eastwards across Canada, with isolated breeding populations in northern parts of the northeastern United States
Some key areas where they breed in North America include:
- The vast boreal forests of central and western Canada (Yukon, Northwest Territories, much of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec)
- Newfoundland and Labrador
- Isolated boreal and montane regions of the western United States (northern Idaho, western Montana, Wyoming)
- Isolated populations in the Adirondack and Catskill mountain ranges of New York
In Eurasia
, the breeding range extends across northern Russia and Scandinavia from:
- Eastern Siberia to the Kamchatka Peninsula
- Northwards across northern Russia to the Arctic coast
- West across northern Scandinavia and Finland
Key breeding areas include:
- Taiga forests of eastern and central Russia (Siberia)
- Northern European Russia
- Scandinavia (Sweden, Norway, Finland)
- Northern Mongolia and northeastern China
Wintering Range
During the winter months, grey cheeked thrushes migrate to more southern latitudes. Their winter range includes:
In North America
:
- The southeastern United States from Texas to Florida
- Caribbean islands including Cuba and Hispaniola
- Pacific coast of Mexico and Central America
- Andean regions of northwestern South America (Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru)
In Eurasia
:
- Southeast Asia including southern China, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia
- Indian subcontinent (India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh)
- Philippines
Migration Routes
Grey cheeked thrushes undertake long annual migrations between their far northern breeding grounds and more southerly wintering areas.
North American populations
generally take a southeastward migration route:
- From Alaska and western Canada southwards along the Pacific Coast to Mexico and Central America
- From eastern and central Canada southwards through the eastern half of the United States to the Southeast and Caribbean
Eurasian populations
migrate southeastwards to southern Asia:
- From Siberia and northern Russia south through eastern China and Southeast Asia to Indonesia
- From Scandinavia and western Russia southwards through Central Asia to the Indian subcontinent
These paths trace broad ‘funnel’ shapes from the dispersed northern breeding areas to more concentrated southern wintering grounds.
Habitats
Grey cheeked thrushes occupy very different breeding and wintering habitats.
Breeding Habitat
During the summer breeding season, grey cheeked thrushes inhabit the dense boreal forests across Canada, Alaska, and northern Eurasia. Typical breeding habitats include:
- Coniferous and mixed forests with dense understory vegetation
- Forest openings and edges
- Young regenerating forest stands
- Muskegs and wooded wetlands
They prefer sites with thick ground cover to conceal their nests and forage for insects.
Wintering Habitat
On their wintering grounds, grey cheeked thrushes shift to very different subtropical forest and woodland habitats including:
- Tropical rainforests (Caribbean islands, Central America, Southeast Asia)
- Cloud forests and woodlands (Andes, Southeast Asia highlands)
- Mangrove forests
- Eucalypt forests (Philippines)
- Scrublands and secondary growth with dense understory
Here they often inhabit forest interiors and edges, avoiding more open areas.
Threats and Conservation Status
Grey cheeked thrush populations remain relatively abundant across their range. Their global population is estimated at around 31 million individuals. However, they face a range of threats on their breeding and wintering grounds:
- Habitat loss from logging and land clearing in boreal forests
- Fragmentation of migration stopover sites
- Climate change disrupting breeding habitats in the far north
Due to their large range and population size, grey cheeked thrushes are evaluated as a species of Least Concern on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Some specific subspecies may be declining and warrant closer monitoring. Maintaining connectivity of their migratory routes and protecting key wintering habitats in Central America and Southeast Asia will be conservation priorities for this far-ranging species.
Conclusion
In summary, grey cheeked thrushes occupy a vast breeding distribution across northern North America and Eurasia, migrating southeastwards to winter in temperate forests and woodlands. Their populations currently remain stable but face threats from boreal habitat loss and barriers along their migration routes. Maintaining connectivity across their migratory range and protecting key wintering grounds will be important for conserving this species into the future.
