Learn what a Swainson's thrush looks like and where to find this species. Also learn what the birds eat and hear their song.
How to Identify a Swainson’s Thrush
Published on Jun. 10, 2025
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What Does a Swainson’s Thrush Look Like?
“What is this bird?” asks Birds & Blooms reader Mark Rice of Dallas, Texas.
Birding experts Kenn and Kimberly Kaufman say, “The compact shape, brown back, spotted chest, and fairly long pale legs all mark this as one of the brown thrushes. Five species migrate through Texas, and sometimes they can be hard to tell apart. On this one, the face pattern confirms it as a Swainson’s thrush, with a bold buffy eye ring, almost as though it’s wearing a pair of spectacles.”
Learn how to identify a wood thrush.
Range and Migration
Kenn and Kimberly say, “Swainson’s thrushes are found all across Canada and Alaska in summer, in addition to parts of the northern and western states. They spend the winter in Central and South America, as well as southern Mexico.”
Diet: What Do Swainson’s Thrushes Eat?
Swainson’s thrushes eat mostly insects during breeding season, but the birds also dine on wild berries when available. They are not typically drawn to backyard bird feeders.
Kenn and Kimberly say, “Thrushes aren’t common visitors to feeders because they don’t eat seeds. If you want to attract thrushes and other birds that don’t typically visit feeders, add a water feature with moving water. Even a small fountain or dripper can work like a charm if it has an area large and flat enough for birds to splash in. For a long-term plan, consider planting native fruiting trees, shrubs and vines. Dogwood, serviceberry, elderberry and wild grape are among our favorites for attracting thrushes.”
Swainson’s Thrush Song
Bird sounds courtesy of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Accomplished singers, thrushes deliver some of the most beautiful bird songs in North America, and this one is no exception. Listen for a short, low note followed by whistled phrases and at the end, a higher note. This bird’s call is a soft hwoit.
Next, meet the varied thrush.
About the Experts
Kenn and Kimberly Kaufman are the official bird experts for Birds & Blooms. They are the creators of the Kaufman Field Guide series and they lead birding trips all over the world.
