# Varied thrush

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The **varied thrush** (***Ixoreus naevius***) is a member of the [thrush](/source/Thrush_(bird)) family, Turdidae. It is the only species in the [monotypic](/source/Monotypic) genus ***Ixoreus***.

## Taxonomy

The varied thrush was [formally described](/source/Species_description) by the German naturalist [Johann Friedrich Gmelin](/source/Johann_Friedrich_Gmelin) in 1789 under the [binomial name](/source/Binomial_name) *Turdus naevius*.[1] Gmelin based his description of the "Spotted thrush" that had been described by [John Latham](/source/John_Latham_(ornithologist)) in 1783 from specimens owned by [Joseph Banks](/source/Joseph_Banks). These had been collected near [Nootka Sound](/source/Nootka_Sound) (formerly King George's Sound) which separates [Nootka Island](/source/Nootka_Island) from [Vancouver Island](/source/Vancouver_Island) on the Pacific coast of Canada.[2] The varied thrush is now the only species placed in the [genus](/source/Genus) *Ixoreus* that was introduced by [Charles Lucien Bonaparte](/source/Charles_Lucien_Bonaparte) in 1854.[3][4] The genus name *Ixoreus* comes from the [Ancient Greek](/source/Ancient_Greek) *ixos* meaning "mistletoe". This was a [synonym](/source/Synonym_(taxonomy)) of a former name for the [mockingbird](/source/Mockingbird) genus, *[Mimus](/source/Mimus)*; Bonaparte assumed wrongly that, because [William Swainson](/source/William_Swainson) had shown a mockingbird and this thrush on the same plate of his book, they were related. The specific *naevius* is [Latin](/source/Latin) for "spotted" from *naevus* meaning "spot".[5]

Four subspecies are recognised:[4]

- *I. n. meruloides* – (Swainson, 1832): Found in south Alaska and northwestern Canada
- *I. n. naevius* – ([Gmelin, J.F.](/source/Johann_Friedrich_Gmelin), 1789): [nominate](/source/Nominate_subspecies#Nominotypical_subspecies_and_subspecies_autonyms), found in southeastern Alaska and western Canada to west central USA
- *I. n. carlottae* – (Phillips, A.R., 1991): found in [Haida Gwaii](/source/Haida_Gwaii)
- *I. n. godfreii* – (Phillips, A.R., 1991): found in the [Interior](/source/Interior_Plateau) and [Columbia Plateau](/source/Columbia_Plateau) west of the [Rocky Mountains](/source/Rocky_Mountains)

## Description

The varied thrush is a fairly large thrush species. It can range from 20 to 26 cm (7.9 to 10.2 in) in length and can span 34 to 42 cm (13 to 17 in) across the wings. Body mass can vary from 65 to 100 g (2.3 to 3.5 oz). Among standard measurements, the [wing chord](/source/Wing_chord_(biology)) is 11.8 to 13.6 cm (4.6 to 5.4 in), the [bill](/source/Beak) is 1.8 to 2.3 cm (0.71 to 0.91 in) and the [tarsus](/source/Tarsus_(skeleton)) is 2.9 to 3.3 cm (1.1 to 1.3 in). It is similar in size to the widespread [American robin](/source/American_robin), though the varied is on average shorter with a heavier, more robust build.[6][7] In general, varied thrushes feature intense orange and black feathers.[8] Adult males exhibit medium orange with a curved gray pattern at the breasts and throats, with grayish-blue tail ends, scruffs, and [crowns](/source/Crown_(anatomy)). They also possess a tufted [supraloral stripe](/source/Supercilium) and streaks of dark colors on its [flight feathers](/source/Flight_feather). Its bill is also achromatic, but tan near the bottom of the lower jaw. Its legs are often tawny or dark brown. Females' markings are not as well-defined, with olive-browns and grays, brown hind feathers, and indiscernible gray-brown plumage near the breasts. Young varied thrushes are generally brown, though their stomach feathers are white, and initially harbor two orange stripes at the [covert feathers](/source/Covert_feathers).[9]

Eggs are generally 3–4 per nest, but sometimes 2–5. Pale blue, lightly dotted with brown. Incubation is by female, probably about 2 weeks. Young: Both parents feed nestlings. Development of young and age at which they leave the nest are not well known. Probably 2 broods per year.

There is an extremely rare variant of this species in which all the orange in the plumage is replaced by white.[10] A very rare British [vagrant](/source/Vagrancy_(biology)) in 1982 was of this type, leading to speculation that whatever mutation causes the colour variation also affects the navigational abilities of this thrush. There have been only five recorded sightings since 1921.[11]

## Distribution and habitat

The varied thrush breeds in western [North America](/source/North_America) from [Alaska](/source/Alaska) to northern [California](/source/California). It is [migratory](/source/Bird_migration), with northern breeders moving south within or somewhat beyond the breeding range. Other populations may only move altitudinally. This species is an improbable transatlantic [vagrant](/source/Vagrancy_(biology)), but there are now two accepted western [European](/source/Europe) records, both in [Great Britain](/source/Great_Britain), in 1982 and on Papa Westray in the Orkney Islands in October 2021.[12]

Nests in Alaska, Yukon Territory, and mountains in Alberta, British Columbia, Washington, and Oregon. Prefers moist conifer forest. Most common in dense, older conifer forests in high elevations. Moves to lower elevations during the winter where it is often seen in towns and orchards and thickets, or migrates to California. Seen in flocks during winter of up to 20 birds. It is well known for individual birds to fly eastward in winter, showing up in just about any state, then returning to the west coast for breeding.

## Feeding

The varied thrush is predominantly [insectivorous](/source/Insectivore), though its diet varies throughout the course of the year. During the summer, ground-dwelling [arthropods](/source/Arthropods) make up the bulk of its diet. During migration and winter, however, the focus of the thrush's diet shifts to [fruits](/source/Fruits), [seeds](/source/Seeds), and [acorns](/source/Acorn), though arthropods are still taken in some quantity. Varied thrushes consume a wide variety of berries throughout the year, including [snowberry](/source/Snowberry), [red huckleberry](/source/Red_huckleberry), [California honeysuckle](/source/California_honeysuckle), [madrone](/source/Pacific_Madrone), [salmonberry](/source/Salmonberry), and [thimbleberry](/source/Thimbleberry).[8]

Varied thrushes forage primarily on the ground, except when foraging for fruits and berries.[8]

## Breeding

The breeding habitat is dense [coniferous](/source/Conifer) forest, with two to five eggs being laid in a tree nest.

## References

1. Gmelin, Johann Friedrich (1789). [*Systema naturae per regna tria naturae: secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis*](https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/25750195) (in Latin). Vol. 1, Part 2. 13th ed. Lipsiae [Leipzig]: Georg. Emanuel. Beer. pp. 817–818.

1. Latham, John (1783). [*A General Synopsis of Birds*](https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/33727995). Vol. 2, Part 1. London: Printed for Leigh and Sotheby. p. 27.

1. Bonaparte, Charles Lucien (1854). ["Notes sur les collections rapportées en 1853, par M. A. Delattre, de son voyage en Californie et dans le Nicaragua"](https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/1215414). *Comptes Rendus Hebdomadaires des Séances de l'Académie des Sciences*. **38**: 1–11, 53–67, 258–266, 378–389, 533–541, 650–665 [3]

1. ["Thrushes"](http://www.worldbirdnames.org/bow/thrushes/). *IOC World Bird List Version 10.2*. International Ornithologists' Union. 2020. Retrieved 19 January 2021.

1. Jobling, James A (2010). [*The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names*](https://archive.org/details/Helm_Dictionary_of_Scientific_Bird_Names_by_James_A._Jobling). London: Christopher Helm. pp. [208](https://archive.org/details/Helm_Dictionary_of_Scientific_Bird_Names_by_James_A._Jobling/page/n208), 265. ISBN 978-1-4081-2501-4.

1. ["Archived copy"](https://web.archive.org/web/20131022204024/http://www.polarconservation.org/education/arctic-animals/arctic-birds/thrushes-and-chats/varied-thrush). Archived from [the original](http://www.polarconservation.org/education/arctic-animals/arctic-birds/thrushes-and-chats/varied-thrush) on 2013-10-22. Retrieved 2012-08-27.

1. Peter, Clement (2001). *Thrushes*. Princeton University Press. ISBN 978-0-691-08852-5.

1. George 2000, p. 1

1. George 2000, p. 2

1. Scott, Shirley L. (ed.) (1987). [*Field Guide to the Birds of North America*](https://archive.org/details/fieldguidetobird00nati_0/page/328). 2nd ed. National Geographic Society. p. [328](https://archive.org/details/fieldguidetobird00nati_0/page/328). ISBN 0-87044-692-4.

1. ["Bird Walk 71 (photo gallery including photos of rare colour variant)"](http://e-picturebookdesigners.com/walks/birdwalk71.html)[dead link]

1. ["Varied Thrush: new to the Western Palearctic"](https://britishbirds.co.uk/article/varied-thrush-new-to-the-western-palearctic/). *British Birds*

## Further reading

- George, T. Luke (2000). "Varied Thrush (*Ixoreus naevius*)". *[Birds of North America](/source/Birds_of_North_America_(book))*. '***(541). Poole, A. (ed.). [doi:10.2173/bna.541](https://doi.org/10.2173/bna.541)***

## External links

- [Varied thrush](http://pinkythepink.deviantart.com/art/The-Twin-Peaks-Bird-118189013) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20160304090943/http://pinkythepink.deviantart.com/art/The-Twin-Peaks-Bird-118189013) 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine in [Twin Peaks](/source/Twin_Peaks) opening theme

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Varied thrush](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Varied_thrush) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Varied_thrush?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.