The largest and most familiar thrush across North America, this species is quickly recognized by its slate-gray or brownish-gray upperparts and orange-red breast. The head is blackish, with white crescents around the eyes (occasionally a whitish supercillium), a yellow bill, and a white throat with fine black streaks. The undertail coverts are white with a few heavy black streaks. Females are generally paler overall than males, show some pale edgings to the breast and belly feathers, and have less brightly colored bills with a dark culmen. Juveniles are lighter brown above and muted orange below with black spots on the breast, and pale spots and feather edgings on the upperparts.

Length: 25 (cm) Wingspan: 36 (cm)

Voice:

Song is a long rolling series of cheerily, cheerio, cheerily, cheerio. Call is a harsh tut, tut tut.

Habitat:

Open forest, parks, residential areas.

Behavior:

Hunts by running to a spot, cocking its head and waiting for movement, then pouncing on prey. If it happens to see its own reflection in a window or car mirror, it will attack the reflection over and over again, sometimes for more than an hour.

Feeding:

Forages on the ground for earthworms and other invertebrates, occasionally small snakes. Also gleans insects from foliage. Fruit is a major part of the diet in winter.