The varied thrush ‘Ixoreus naevius’ acquired its name from the ancient Greek word ‘ixos’, meaning a mistletoe. This bird was introduced initially by Bonaparte in 1854. This unique bird is found in abundance in the North American regions. Their breeding range usually follows the east and southern locations post the winter season. These birds’ habitat conservation is mainly done in the dense forests of western Europe, in the parts of the US, Alaska, southern California, as well as southern Canada.One unusual fact about these birds is that the thrush species population shows a considerable peak every two years. This is a cycle observed by many nature observers about these birds, but without any successful reasoning. Here’s one interesting way to attract thrushes. Thrushes usually eat from feeders during the winter, so one can sprinkle a few seeds on the ground or put them in the feeder and get them to fly closer to humans. So, you must keep on reading for more information on this bird.For more interesting facts about other animals, check chicken hawk and rufous hummingbird.
Varied Thrush Facts
What do they prey on? Insects, earthworms, caterpillars, snails, millipedes
What do they eat? Omnivore
Average litter size? 1-6
How much do they weigh? 0.17-0.22 lb (78-100 g)
How long are they? 7.5-10.2 in (19-26 cm)
How tall are they? Unknown
What do they look like? Blue-gray, black, burnt orange, gray-brown
Skin Type Feathers
What were their main threats? Unknown
What is their conservation status? Least Concern
Where you’ll find them? Ravines, Wet And Coniferous Forests, Dense Woodlands
Locations North America, Alaska, U.s, Western Europe, Pacific Northwest, Northern California
Kingdom Animalia
Genus Ixoreus
Class Aves
Family Turdidae
Varied Thrush Interesting FactsWhat type of animal is a varied thrush?The varied thrush (Ixoreus naevius) is a bird belonging to the Turdidae family.What class of animal does a varied thrush belong to?This bird, of the order Passeriformes, family Turdidae, belongs to the Aves class of animals. They are considered warm-blooded vertebrate creatures of the wild.How many varied thrushes are there in the world?There are four subspecies of varied thrushes. Although the total number of these breeding individuals is not yet known, thrushes have a conservation status of Least Concern.Where does a varied thrush live?These birds are found in abundance in the areas of North America, forests in the Pacific northwest regions as well as the Pacific coast. They are also spotted in northern California, a few regions in Oregon, Alaska, and parts of the US. They can be seen in western Europe. They also have a rare variety of whitish breeds in the Great Britain habitat.What is a varied thrush’s habitat?Varied thrushes are found in the wet coniferous forests, ravines, and woodlands. They build their nests in the trees that grow in the dark areas of these forests. They roam in open areas during the springtime and try to head down during the winter based on their intensity. That is the reason why during winter, these North American birds can be seen residing in the dense parts of the gardens and parks.Who do varied thrushes live with?The varied thrush female and the male are said to be loyal to each other; they stay together to feed and take care of their baby after the breeding season. Although they are said to be monogamous, the duration of them staying together is not registered. These birds don’t live together in larger groups, but they do travel in large flocks collectively known as a hermitage of thrushes.How long does a varied thrush live?This species of North American bird have an average bird life duration; the lifespan of varied thrush range from around five to six years of age.How do they reproduce?The breeding usually happens twice for these birds in a span of one year. Males are known to sing a song to attract females as well as defend their territory during the breeding period. In this species, females are responsible for finding a suitable location for the nest. They usually breed at medium to highly elevated places, mainly on the tree at the base of a branch. Once the female finds a preferable spot, she is responsible for building the nest with the help of grass, dried leaves, twigs, and soft grass, too.Once the nest is complete, the female bird lays a clutch of two to a maximum of five eggs in the cup-shaped nest that is built by her. The female then incubates the eggs for a period of 10-13 days, with an average being two weeks. After the eggs hatch, the male and the female both take care of the young one’s feeding habits. This is done until the baby is ready to be independent.What is their conservation status?According to the International Union for Control of Nature, the conservation status of these breeds is listed as Least Concern. Yet, there have been reports from various sources stating that the varied thrush population is decreasing subtly due to globalization and reducing numbers of dense forests.Varied Thrush Fun FactsWhat do varied thrushes look like?The male bird of this species is considered to be bright in color. They have short but round heads with orangish bars above the eyes, which may even look like eyebrows. They have a black band near the breast that usually represents a necklace-like structure. They have black wings with orange-colored bars or streaks. They have beady eyes with a straight and medium-sized dark-colored bill. They also have stalky long long stalky legs.Females, on the other hand, are comparatively dull in color. They have more shades of brown on them than orange. The young ones are similar to the females but with a whitish stomach.How cute are they?The varied thrush size is quite small, and they have bright colors. This is what makes them look cute and pretty to onlookers.How do they communicate?These birds communicate just as similar bird species do. They are tactile in nature. They use touch and visual aids for basic understanding. They also use their acoustic abilities to communicate with their partners about any threats or dangers near them. This is actually done with the help of the sound variations in their calls or songs.How big is a varied thrush?Varied thrushes are double the size of the forest rock thrush. They are as big as 7.5 in (19 cm) to a maximum of 10.2 in (26 cm) in size. They might look even bigger while taking a flight because their wings reach a length of 13.4 in (34 cm) to a maximum of 15 in (38 cm).How fast can a varied thrush fly?Although the exact speed of these birds is yet unknown, they are known to be swift flyers. They are known to travel considerable lengths and distances in their large flocks during the winter migration.How much does a varied thrush weigh?These are a small breed of bird, and they weigh somewhere between 0.17 lb 2.3 oz to a maximum of 0.22 lb 3.5 oz. This means that they have a mere weight of 65-100 g.What are their male and female names of the species?There are no specific names for this species based on gender. They are simply called males and females based on their color and physical description or appearance.What would you call a baby varied thrush?Just like most other young birds, the baby varied thrush is also called a nestling or a chick.What do they eat?These birds follow a summer, fall, and winter cycle for their feeding requirements. Like most other bird species, they, too, can be named insectivores as their major diet focuses on different types of earthworms, caterpillars, snails, millipedes, bugs, spiders, and all kinds of insects. In berries, seeds, and fruits, they consume madrone, acorn, snowberry, thimbleberry, and the other berry fruits. As they are seasonal feeders, they focus on insects in the summer and berries in the fall and winter.Would they make a good pet?Varied thrushes are wild birds, and keeping them as pets is not advised. There are ways one can attract them to their backyards or gardens by keeping feeders and spilling seeds around, but that’s about it. They would not do well if kept indoors.Did you know…Many people usually have a ‘varied thrush-juvenile American robin’ classification confusion. Here are a few points that you can observe to find the difference between these two bird species. The male thrush has a lot of color variation on their its body, right from black-gray or blue markings on its round head, with to a dark straight bill and a black breast band. The robin, on the other hand, lacks this color variation as well as the breast markings; their bill is bills are bright and short.The immature varied thrush or female varied thrush are dull, but they have a light shade of orange breast along with wing bars and sort of bright-colored eyebrows. The robin juvenile, in contrast, has plain gray wings without any wing bar with a spotted back.What does a varied thrush sound like?Varied thrush calls are performed by all sexes of this species. The varied thrush call is especially performed by the bird in case of danger and fits of aggression. The varied thrush bird call sounds like short trills with harsh notes of the sound ‘churr’, ‘chect’. You might be able to listen to a male varied thrush song during the morning and evening hours. This song of the varied thrush sounds like whistles paired with flute tones that are not as melodious as they ideally should sound.What trees do varied thrushes nest in?This bird population prefers dark surroundings and forests during their breeding period for nesting. Varied thrush usually builds their nest in mature or old trees that grow in the dark forests of northern California or the similar coniferous habitats of the US and other areas. These birds might reside in trees like fir, pine, redwood, or even maple trees that are located in the darker areas of the forest, garden, or parks.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other birds including wandering albatross, or summer tanager.You can even occupy yourself at home by drawing one on our Varied thrush coloring pages.
What type of animal is a varied thrush?
The varied thrush (Ixoreus naevius) is a bird belonging to the Turdidae family.
Varied Thrush Facts
What do they prey on? Insects, earthworms, caterpillars, snails, millipedes
What do they eat? Omnivore
Average litter size? 1-6
How much do they weigh? 0.17-0.22 lb (78-100 g)
How long are they? 7.5-10.2 in (19-26 cm)
How tall are they? Unknown
What do they look like? Blue-gray, black, burnt orange, gray-brown
Skin Type Feathers
What were their main threats? Unknown
What is their conservation status? Least Concern
Where you’ll find them? Ravines, Wet And Coniferous Forests, Dense Woodlands
Locations North America, Alaska, U.s, Western Europe, Pacific Northwest, Northern California
Kingdom Animalia
Genus Ixoreus
Class Aves
Family Turdidae
Varied Thrush Facts
What do they prey on? Insects, earthworms, caterpillars, snails, millipedes
What do they eat? Omnivore
Average litter size? 1-6
How much do they weigh? 0.17-0.22 lb (78-100 g)
How long are they? 7.5-10.2 in (19-26 cm)
How tall are they? Unknown
What do they look like? Blue-gray, black, burnt orange, gray-brown
Skin Type Feathers
What were their main threats? Unknown
What is their conservation status? Least Concern
Where you’ll find them? Ravines, Wet And Coniferous Forests, Dense Woodlands
Locations North America, Alaska, U.s, Western Europe, Pacific Northwest, Northern California
Kingdom Animalia
Genus Ixoreus
Class Aves
Family Turdidae
Varied Thrush Facts
What do they prey on? Insects, earthworms, caterpillars, snails, millipedes
What do they eat? Omnivore
Average litter size? 1-6
How much do they weigh? 0.17-0.22 lb (78-100 g)
How long are they? 7.5-10.2 in (19-26 cm)
How tall are they? Unknown
What do they look like? Blue-gray, black, burnt orange, gray-brown
Skin Type Feathers
What were their main threats? Unknown
What is their conservation status? Least Concern
Where you’ll find them? Ravines, Wet And Coniferous Forests, Dense Woodlands
Locations North America, Alaska, U.s, Western Europe, Pacific Northwest, Northern California
Kingdom Animalia
Genus Ixoreus
Class Aves
Family Turdidae
Varied Thrush Facts
What do they prey on? Insects, earthworms, caterpillars, snails, millipedes
What do they eat? Omnivore
Average litter size? 1-6
How much do they weigh? 0.17-0.22 lb (78-100 g)
How long are they? 7.5-10.2 in (19-26 cm)
How tall are they? Unknown
What do they look like? Blue-gray, black, burnt orange, gray-brown
Skin Type Feathers
What were their main threats? Unknown
What is their conservation status? Least Concern
Where you’ll find them? Ravines, Wet And Coniferous Forests, Dense Woodlands
Locations North America, Alaska, U.s, Western Europe, Pacific Northwest, Northern California
Kingdom Animalia
Genus Ixoreus
Class Aves
Family Turdidae
What do they prey on? Insects, earthworms, caterpillars, snails, millipedes
What do they eat? Omnivore
Average litter size? 1-6
How much do they weigh? 0.17-0.22 lb (78-100 g)
How long are they? 7.5-10.2 in (19-26 cm)
How tall are they? Unknown
What do they look like? Blue-gray, black, burnt orange, gray-brown
Skin Type Feathers
What were their main threats? Unknown
What is their conservation status? Least Concern
Where you’ll find them? Ravines, Wet And Coniferous Forests, Dense Woodlands
Locations North America, Alaska, U.s, Western Europe, Pacific Northwest, Northern California
Kingdom Animalia
Genus Ixoreus
Class Aves
Family Turdidae
What do they prey on? Insects, earthworms, caterpillars, snails, millipedes
What do they eat? Omnivore
Average litter size? 1-6
How much do they weigh? 0.17-0.22 lb (78-100 g)
How long are they? 7.5-10.2 in (19-26 cm)
How tall are they? Unknown
What do they look like? Blue-gray, black, burnt orange, gray-brown
Skin Type Feathers
What were their main threats? Unknown
What is their conservation status? Least Concern
What do they prey on?
Insects, earthworms, caterpillars, snails, millipedes
What do they eat?
Omnivore
Average litter size?
1-6
How much do they weigh?
0.17-0.22 lb (78-100 g)
How long are they?
7.5-10.2 in (19-26 cm)
How tall are they?
Unknown
What do they look like?
Blue-gray, black, burnt orange, gray-brown
Skin Type
Feathers
What were their main threats?
What is their conservation status?
Least Concern
Where you’ll find them? Ravines, Wet And Coniferous Forests, Dense Woodlands
Locations North America, Alaska, U.s, Western Europe, Pacific Northwest, Northern California
Kingdom Animalia
Genus Ixoreus
Class Aves
Family Turdidae
Where you’ll find them?
Ravines, Wet And Coniferous Forests, Dense Woodlands
Locations
North America, Alaska, U.s, Western Europe, Pacific Northwest, Northern California
Kingdom Animalia
Genus Ixoreus
Kingdom
Animalia
Genus
Ixoreus
Class Aves
Family Turdidae
