Varied Thrush look-alikes

Key differences

American Robins are larger, have a brighter orange breast without a black band, a gray back, and a black head with white eye-arcs. They lack the Varied Thrush's black facial mask and rufous wing bars. Their song is a series of cheerful 'cheerily, cheer up, cheer up' phrases, very different from the Varied Thrush's ethereal whistles.

Key differences

Hermit Thrushes are smaller and browner overall, with a reddish tail that contrasts with a browner back. They have a spotted breast but lack the distinct black breast band and rufous wing bars of the Varied Thrush. Their song is also flute-like but typically consists of a single clear note followed by a series of complex, echoing phrases.

Key differences

Swainson's Thrushes are smaller and uniformly brown on the back, with a buffy face and prominent buffy eye-ring. Their breast is spotted, but they lack the black breast band and rufous coloration of the Varied Thrush. Their song is a spiraling, flute-like 'whir-o-wee, whir-o-wee, whir-o-you' that ascends in pitch.