Migration: but no confirmed records since 2015 in part because of the species' overall scarcity, retiring habits, and the lack of observer familiarity with its vocalizations.
Miscellany: In 1995, taxonomists decided that Gray-cheeked Thrush was actually two species, Gray-cheeked Thrush, a continent spanning species, and Bicknell's Thrush, with a very limited and fragmented range in the northeastern U.S. and Canada. The only reliable way to tell the two apart remains slight differences in their songs. It's likely that spring migrants in our area do sing on occasion but such songs are often softly voiced and hard to detect. Both species appear to have declined in the past 30 years, especially Gray-cheeks in Newfoundland but Bicknell's generally as well. These days a record of either species would be exceptional.
Last Reviewed: July 2nd, 2026