Eyebrowed Thrush

Overview

The Eyebrowed Thrush is a migratory thrush of eastern Asia, breeding across the Siberian taiga and wintering in Southeast Asia, with occasional vagrants reaching Alaska and the Pacific coast of North America. It is named for its bold, pale eyebrow stripe, a key field mark shared by both sexes.

• Long-distance migrant between Siberia and tropical Asia
• Bold white supercilium is the species' most distinctive feature
• Rare but regular vagrant to western Alaska

Feather Identification

Eyebrowed Thrush feathers combine plain olive-brown tones with a bold facial stripe.

• Head feathers: Grayish with a bold, long white supercilium (eyebrow stripe) above the eye
• Back and wing feathers: Plain olive-brown, unmarked
• Breast feathers: Warm orange-buff, fading to white on the belly
• Female/immature feathers: Similar pattern but slightly duller overall
• The bold white eyebrow stripe combined with the orange-washed breast and white belly is diagnostic among similarly sized thrushes

Plumage, Sex & Age Differences

Males show a grayer head and more defined white eyebrow stripe than females, which are slightly duller and browner overall with a less crisp supercilium. Juveniles show fine spotting typical of young thrushes before their first molt. Adults undergo a complete molt after breeding.

Habitat & Range

Eyebrowed Thrushes breed across the boreal taiga forest of Siberia and migrate to winter in Southeast Asia, including parts of China, Southeast Asian countries, and the Philippines. The species is a rare but regular vagrant to western Alaska and occasionally further south along the Pacific coast.

Behavior, Voice & Field Notes

Eyebrowed Thrushes forage on the ground and in trees for insects, other invertebrates, and fruit, often forming loose flocks on migration and in winter. Their call is a thin, high-pitched note, and their song is a simple, thrush-like warble delivered on the breeding grounds. They nest in trees within taiga forest.