Swainson's Thrush Photos

Photography by Terry Sohl

My Favorite: Swainson's Thrushes do breed in the higher elevations of the Black Hills of South Dakota, but in the eastern part of the state where I live, they are migrants. However, there's a period of the year where they can be one of the most common birds you'll find. As you can see from the photos below, that period is evidently between May 10th and May 20th of every year! During the spring migration, they're quite easy to find along woodland edges with grassy open areas adjacent. They'll forage in the grass right along the forest edge, flitting back into cover when disturbed. My favorite photo is the one below, from May 17th, 2011, showing a Swainson's Thrush striking a pose in sumac along the river at the Big Sioux Recreation Area in Brandon, South Dakota.

Swainson's Thrush - Catharus ustulatus


Swainson's Thrush 1 May 13th, 2005 Minnehaha County, South Dakota	Swainson's Thrush 2 May 13th, 2006 Outdoor Campus, Sioux Falls, South Dakota	Swainson's Thrush 3 May 13th, 2005 Minnehaha County, South Dakota	Swainson's Thrush 4 May 15th, 2005 Outdoor Campus, Sioux Falls, South Dakota

Swainson's Thrush 5 May 10th, 2019 Newton Hills State Park, South Dakota	Swainson's Thrush 6 May 13th, 2006 Outdoor Campus, Sioux Falls, South Dakota	Swainson's Thrush 7 May 20th, 2008 Big Sioux Recreation Area, South Dakota	Swainson's Thrush 8 May 17th, 2011 Big Sioux Recreation Area, South Dakota

Swainson's Thrush 9 May 10th, 2011 Big Sioux Recreation Area, South Dakota	Swainson's Thrush 10 May 4th, 2018 Big Sioux Recreation Area, South Dakota	Swainson's Thrush 11 May 10th, 2011 Big Sioux Recreation Area, South Dakota	Swainson's Thrush 12 May 17th, 2011 Big Sioux Recreation Area, South Dakota

Swainson's Thrush 13 May 17th, 2011 Big Sioux Recreation Area, South Dakota	Swainson's Thrush 14 May 17th, 2011 Big Sioux Recreation Area, South Dakota	Swainson's Thrush 15 May 17th, 2011 Big Sioux Recreation Area, South Dakota	Swainson's Thrush 16 May 11th, 2018 Big Sioux Recreation Area, South Dakota

Swainson's Thrush 17 May 16th, 2020 Beaver Creek Nature Area, South Dakota	Swainson's Thrush 18 May 10th, 2015 Beaver Creek Nature Area, South Dakota	Swainson's Thrush 19 May 10th, 2019 Newton Hills State Park, South Dakota	Swainson's Thrush 20 May 10th, 2019 Newton Hills State Park, South Dakota

Swainson's Thrush 21 May 10th, 2020 Newton Hills State Park, South Dakota	Swainson's Thrush 22 May 10th, 2020 Newton Hills State Park, South Dakota	Swainson's Thrush 23 May 18th, 2020 Newton Hills State Park, South Dakota