Varied Thrush vs Swainson's Thrush

The Varied Thrush and Swainson's Thrush can be distinguished by their plumage and habitat preferences. The Varied Thrush has a striking orange and black pattern, while Swainson's Thrush is more uniformly brown with a distinct eye-ring. Varied Thrushes prefer dense, dark forests, whereas Swainson's Thrushes are often found in northern spruce-fir forests.

Look for the orange and black plumage of the Varied Thrush, especially the orange breast band. Swainson's Thrush has a pale eye-ring and is more uniformly brown. Consider the habitat: Varied Thrushes in dense, dark forests; Swainson's Thrushes in northern spruce-fir forests.

Varied Thrushes exhibit a bold orange and black plumage with a distinctive orange breast band, making them quite striking. In contrast, Swainson's Thrushes are more subdued, with a brownish overall coloration and a prominent pale eye-ring.

Varied Thrushes are typically found in dark, wet forests of the Pacific Northwest, while Swainson's Thrushes are more common in northern spruce-fir forests.