Identification - The Swainson's Thrush is the buffiest of the brown-backed thrushes and like them is a woodland bird between a sparrow and a robin in size. It has a buffy face and upper breast. Also look for a bold buff eye ring. The upperparts are reddish brown, the underparts are white with spots on the chest.
Morsels - The Swainson's Thrush migrates at night like all the brown-backed thrushes, and has a special migration call note. It utters a soft heep that is given in flight between dawn and dusk as it flies. On any calm September night across much of North America one can listen for this mysterious call and know that the Swainson's Thrushes are flying south towards South America.