By Dayna Baillo
Geographic Range
Northeast Siberia across Alaska and northern Canada to north-central Quebec, Labrador, and Newfoundland. South to northern British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Ontario. (Barker,2000)
During the winter, the Gray-Cheeked Thrush migrates to the northern part of South America into Colombia, Venezuela, south to Peru, and into northwest Brazil. (Chipper Woods Bird Observatory, 2000)
Biogeographic Regions:
nearctic 
(native ); neotropical (native ).
Habitat
Occupant of the boreal forest of northern Canada and Alaska. Little is known about their winter habitat. (Laughlin, S.B.,1985)
They will seek cover under large rocks in sparsely vegetated arctic regions. (Barker, 2000)
Terrestrial Biomes:
tundra ; taiga ; savanna or grassland ; forest ; rainforest ; scrub forest ; mountains .
Physical Description
The length of the Gray-Cheeked Thrush is about 16 centimeters. The sexes are similar and have a distinctive song which is very high pitched with quick chippers. They have olive-brown upper parts, gray cheeks, and pink legs. The under parts are white with grayish flanks. It also has a gray, indistinct eye ring. (Laughlin,1985)
Some key physical features:
endothermic ; bilateral symmetry .
Reproduction
The Gray-Cheeked Thrush usually has one brood per season. They will lay a second brood if the first nest fails early in the season. The female builds the nest which normally consists of dried grasses mixed with a supporting layer of mud. The incubation period is thirteen to fourteen days. They incubate between three to five eggs, but usually only four. The eggs are light greenish-blue, marked with light brown dots or splotches, and are oval to short-oval in shape. The young are initially dependent on their parents for food. (Barker, 2000)
Key reproductive features:
iteroparous ; gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); sexual ; oviparous .
Behavior
Males sing from the top of a low tree or shrub. They sing mainly during dawn or dusk. They will sometimes sing during the day except during the breeding season. (Barker, 2000)
Key behaviors:
flies; motile .
Food Habits
The Gray-Cheeked Thrush eats mostly insects such as beetles, weevils, ants, wasps, and caterpillars. They may also consume spiders, crayfish, sow bugs, and earthworms. They also eat grapes, wild cherries, blackberries, and raspberries.(Barker, 2000)
Their habit of eating berries contributes to the propagation of plants as undigested seeds are transported to other locations.(Chipper Woods Bird Observatory, 2000)
Economic Importance for Humans: Negative
There are no negative affects on humans or the environment from the Gray-Cheeked Thrush.
Economic Importance for Humans: Positive
The Gray-Cheeked Thrush benefits humans by eating insects that annoy or harm us.
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List: [link]:
Least Concern.
US Migratory Bird Act: [link]:
Protected.
US Federal List: [link]:
No special status.
CITES: [link]:
No special status.
State of Michigan List: [link]:
No special status.
Gray-cheeked thrushes have a large range and large population size. They are protected by the U.S. Migratory Bird Act.
For More Information
Find Catharus minimus information at
Contributors
Dayna Baillo (author), Milford High School.
George Campbell (editor), Milford High School.
