Catharus bicknelli

Smaller and typically richer brown dorsally than the gray-cheeked thrush; tail color (with various amounts of chestnut) contrasts with the back color in Bicknell's whereas there is little contrast in gray-cheeked thrush; pale area at base of bill is yellowish in Bicknell's, fleshy-pink in gray-cheeked; white of ventral region is duller than in gray-cheeked thrush; songs differ as well, with those of Bicknell's ending on an even or ascending pitch whereas the gray-cheeked's descends (Rimmer et al. 1993, Ouellet 1993). However, Bicknell's thrush from the Gaspe Peninsula lacks bright yellow on the mandible, and some Newfoundland gray-cheeked thrushes have more extensively pale mandibles, "warm" plumage tones, and appear to have a chestnut tail (McLaren 1995). In migration, Bicknell's thrush and gray-cheeked thrush probably cannot be reliably separated without specimens in hand.

In New England and New York, inhabits montane forests, primarily areas dominated by stunted balsam fir and red spruce at elevations above 3000 ft (Rimmer et al. 1993). Habitats in Canada include mountaintop and dense coastal coniferous forests as well as mixed second-growth regenerating stands (Rimmer 1996). In southern Quebec, occurs mainly in second growth stands characterized by relatively young conifers of small size (balsam fir, white spruce) intermixed with a variety of deciduous species typical of second-growth regeneration (PRUNUS sp., BETULA sp., AMELANCHIER sp., ACER SPICATUM, POPULUS sp.) following forest fires or clear cutting; trees seldom exceed 10 m in height (Ouellet 1993). Nests generally are situated close to the trunk in the upper half of a small-to-medium-sized fir or spruce, typically in conifer thickets, often on steep slopes (Rimmer 1996). In migration and winter also in deciduous forest, forest borders, open woodland, second growth, and scrub. Winter habitat may be restricted to primary tropical forest (Rimmer et al. 1993). Occurred at fairly high densities in moist, broad-leafed montane forest in the Dominican Republic (Rimmer 1996).

At Mount Mansfield, Vermont, density was estimated at about 50-60 pairs/40 ha in optimal habitat (Rimmer 1996).

Eggs are laid in June (mostly) and July. Clutch size is 3-6 (average 3-4). Incubation, by female, lasts 12-14 days. Young are tended by both parents, leave nest at 11-13 days. Pairs with failed nests early in the season may renest. Causes of nest failure include predation by red squirrel and blue jay and desertion (Rimmer 1996).