General

Dusky Thrush: Large thrush with brown back and rufous wings. Underparts are white with black scaling. Head is dark, eyebrow is white, and bill is black with yellow base on lower mandible. Throat is white with black streaks and partial collar is white. Female and juvenile are duller. Rare visitor to Alaska.

Range and Habitat

Dusky Thrush: Common in Siberia, casual in Alaska during spring migration; rare to accidental in coastal Alaska and British Columbia in winter. Preferred habitats include lawns and ornamental fruit-bearing shrubs and trees.

Breeding and Nesting

Dusky Thrush: Four to six light blue green eggs with brown blotches are laid in a nest made of grass, rootlets, and twigs, lined with clay, and built on a tree branch, stump, ground, or cliff ledge. Incubation ranges from 13 to 15 days and is carried out by the female.

Foraging and Feeding

Dusky Thrush: Eats insects, earthworms, berries, and fruits; forages while hopping on the ground, pausing frequently to scan for food.

Readily Eats

Raisins, Currants, Nut Meal

Vocalization

Dusky Thrush: Song is a series of melodious whistles. Call is a harsh "shack-shack-shack" or piecing "shreee."

Similar Species

Dusky Thrush: Eyebrowed Thrush has brown upperwings, rufous wash on belly, gray upper breast, white spot from eye to chin, and lacks black scaling on underparts.