Varied Thrush (Ixoreus naevius) is in the Thrushes family (Turdidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 9,040 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in January.
Seasonal pattern in the national data: winter visitor. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.
When to photograph Varied Thrush: observations by month (U.S.)
About Varied Thrush
The varied thrush (Ixoreus naevius) is a member of the thrush family, Turdidae.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Varied Thrush by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | 3,080 | January | Oct–Apr |
| California | 2,296 | February | Oct–Mar |
| Oregon | 2,140 | January | Oct–Mar |
| Alaska | 741 | June | May–Jul |
| Idaho | 81 | January | Dec–Mar |
| Montana | 79 | July | Jun–Sep |
| Colorado | 69 | March | Oct–Mar |
| Nevada | 64 | November | Oct–Jan |
| Arizona | 60 | November | Oct–Nov |
| Minnesota | 57 | January | Dec–Feb |
| New York | 54 | October | Oct–Jan |
| Texas | 47 | October | Oct–Nov |
| Ohio | 37 | January | Dec–Feb |
| New Mexico | 24 | December | Oct–Dec |
| Massachusetts | 22 | January | Jan–Feb |
| Missouri | 21 | December | Dec–Dec |
| North Carolina | 19 | December | Dec–Feb |
| Wisconsin | 19 | January | Dec–Mar |
| Michigan | 18 | March | Jan–Mar |
| Pennsylvania | 18 | February | Feb–Feb |
| Utah | 16 | January | Jan–Feb |
| Kentucky | 9 | February | Jan–Feb |
| Maryland | 9 | February | Dec–Feb |
| New Hampshire | 9 | January | Dec–Jan |
| North Dakota | 9 | March | Feb–Mar |
| Illinois | 7 | January | Jan–Jan |
| Florida | 5 | November | Nov–Nov |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related birds (Thrushes)
American Robin
Eastern Bluebird
Western Bluebird
Hermit Thrush
Swainson's Thrush
Mountain Bluebird
Wood Thrush
Townsend's Solitaire
Photography tips
- Use a fast shutter (1/2000 s or faster) for birds in flight.
- Focus on the eye and shoot at the bird's eye level.
- Approach slowly and stop if the bird changes behavior; never bait or flush birds.
- Morning activity peaks in the first two hours after sunrise.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Varied Thrush?
Nationally, January has the most observations, with the main season from October to March.
Where is Varied Thrush most often seen?
The most observations come from Washington, California, Oregon.