What does the Swainson's Thrush song sound like?

Catharus ustulatus

Song common

Play the real Swainson's Thrush song, the "whoo-eeh, hwee, hwEE, hWEE, HWEE!", and learn what to listen for.

“whoo-eeh, hwee, hwEE, hWEE, HWEE!”

What the Swainson's Thrush song sounds like

A series of ethereal, upward-spiraling whistled phrases that seem to disappear into the treetops; most often given at dawn and dusk.

“whoo-eeh, hwee, hwEE, hWEE, HWEE!”

Birders often file this one under Ascending Flute-like Song.

How to find the bird singing it

Moist coniferous and mixed forests with dense understory, especially along streams and edges; during migration it frequents thickets, parks, and riparian corridors.

Eye Ring: Bold, buffy spectacle—with an unbroken eye ring and a pale lores spot—that stands out on the face.
Back & Wings: Plain olive-brown to russet upperparts lacking strong contrast between back and wings.
Underparts: Creamy white breast heavily washed with buff and covered in small, round olive-brown spots that fade toward belly.

When you'll hear it

Spring

Fresh plumage, bright buff eye ring; often seen low in blossoming understory during northbound migration.

Summer

Territorial males sing persistently at dawn and dusk deep within spruce-fir or aspen forests.

Fall

Plumage slightly worn; switches diet to berries; flocks loosely with other thrushes.

Winter

Silent and skulking in tropical forest mid-story, often with mixed-species flocks.

Don’t confuse it with

Birds whose song gets mistaken for this one. Play them back to back.

Hermit Thrush

Hermit has rufous tail contrasting with brown back

Veery

Veery’s spots are faint and restricted to upper breast

Swainson's Thrush song FAQ

What does a Swainson's Thrush song sound like?

A series of ethereal, upward-spiraling whistled phrases that seem to disappear into the treetops; most often given at dawn and dusk. Birders write it as "whoo-eeh, hwee, hwEE, hWEE, HWEE!".

How do I tell a Swainson's Thrush from a Hermit Thrush by ear?

Hermit Thrush: Hermit has rufous tail contrasting with brown back; Bolder breast spots forming chevrons.

When is the best time to hear the Swainson's Thrush song?

Long-distance nocturnal migrant. Arrives on breeding grounds April–June, departs August–September. Peaks at night over U.S. Gulf Coast in spring and along Atlantic Coast in fall.

More Swainson's Thrush sounds

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