Veery
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The Veery, Catharus fuscescens, is a small thrush. It is occasionally called Willow Thrush or Wilson's Thrush. This species is 16-18 cm in length, and has the white-dark-white underwing patterm characteristic of Catharus thrushes.
Adults are mainly light brown on the upperparts. The underparts are white; the breast is lighter brown with dark spots. They have pink legs; their eye ring is indistinct. Birds in the east are more cinnamon on the upperparts; western birds are more olive-brown.
Their breeding habitat is humid deciduous across southern Canada and the northern United States. They make a cup nest on the ground or near the base of a shrub.
These birds migrate to eastern South America. They are very rare vagrants to western Europe.
They forage on the forest floor, flipping leaves to uncover insects; they may fly up to catch insects in flight. They mainly eat insects and berries.
This bird has a breezy downward-spiralling flute-like song, often heard from a low but concealed location. The most common call is a "vee-er", which gave this bird its name.
This bird has been displaced in some parts of its range by the Wood Thrush. They have also suffered from nest parasitism by the Brown-headed Cowbirds.
References
- BirdLife International (2004). [Catharus fuscescens]. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 12 May 2006. Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern
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