THE NATURAL WORLD OF SOUTHERN VANCOUVER ISLAND THROUGH THE LENS OF CAPTAIN YVES-PART 31
These little guys are hard to find as they like to spend their time in the quiet old forests of the Pacific Northwest. This species is very shy and secretive.
Hints that a Varied Thrush is near by are their sweet, echoing, simple song. Also look towards the ground as they forage for insects in summer and switch to berries and seeds in winter.
Varied Thrushes are often aggressive toward each other and other bird species. At feeders, males will sometimes defend the small area, where they dominate species such as sparrows, blackbirds, towhees etc.
It is thought that this species establishes a monogamous breeding partner, but how long the birds stay together is not known.
Males and females look very similar in colour, they are a vivid combination of bluey-grey, orange and black. Where the males are blue the females will show a duller colour closer to brown.