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Veery

Catharus fuscescens

Length: 7 to 7.5 inches Wingspan: 11 inches Seasonality: Migrant / Summer
ID Keys: Tawny brown upperparts, white underparts with pale spotting on breast, plain face, black upper mandible and pinkish lower mandible with a black tip.  

Veery - Catharus fuscescensThe Veery is a temporary summer resident of forests of the northern U.S. and southern Canada, migrating northward relatively late in spring and leaving in late summer.  They are most commonly seen hopping along the forest floor as they search for insects and other prey items.  It's beautiful song is a common summer sound in much of the northern U.S., especially near sunset.

In South Dakota, Veeries are primarily rare migrants. However, small numbers do nest in the Black Hills (particularly in and around Spearfish Canyon), and in the far northeastern corner of the state.

Habitat:

During the summer breeding season, they are found in thickets and dense forest understories, often near water.  They usually avoid areas without a significant understory.  They are found in similar environments during migration and in winter in the tropics.

Diet:

 The summer diet is mostly insects and spiders, as well as centipedes, snails, and small amphibians.  During the winter months, they also consume great amounts of fruits and berries.

Behavior:

Forages low in the vegetation or along the ground.  They will sometimes poke at decaying logs and flip over leaves at stones in search of insects.  They also can hover while picking insects from foliage, and will occasionally fly out from a perch to snag a flying insect in mid-air.

Nesting:

June and July. Veery nest on the ground, or in vegetation low to the ground. Nests on the ground are placed in a protected area, such as against the base of a shrub, clump of herbaceous vegetation, a fallen log, or rock. Nests in vegetation are placed low to the ground in a dense shrub or small tree. The nest is a cup, built with a base of leaves, bark, and other vegetative material, and lined with fine roots, grasses, and/or hair. The female lays between 2 and 5 eggs, and she alone incubates them. Incubation lasts 12 to 14 days, and the young fledge from the nest after another 12 to 14 days.

Song:

Veeries have a pleasant descending whistling, veeyurr, veeyurr, veer, veer.  They also have simpler calls that could consist of similar veer notes, or various whistles and chatters.

Migration:

Summers throughout much of the northern United States and southern Canada, as well as at higher elevations in the central Rockies and the Appalachians.  Winters in the tropics.

Interactive eBird Map:

Click here to access an interactive eBird map of Veery sightings

Similar Species:

Veery have a general size, structure, and plumage that's similar to several other thrush species that either migrate through the state, or are found here as breeding birds in the summer months.

Wood Thrush 1 - Hylocichla mustelina Hermit Thrush 7 - Catharus guttatus Swainson's Thrush 13 - Catharus ustulatus Gray-cheeked Thrush 1 - Catharus minimus
Wood Thrush Hermit Thrush Swainson's Thrush Gray-cheeked Thrush

South Dakota "Hotspot":

Veeries are common summer breeders in Spearfish Canyon in the Black Hills.  They can usually be found around Roughlock Falls in the Canyon, with very active singing and movement early in the morning and late in the evening in the spring and early summer months.

Conservation Status:

There are indications that populations may be in decline in recent decades.  Increased access to nests for Brown-headed Cowbirds has increased parasitism, due to forest fragmentation and more edge habitat favorable for Cowbirds. However, they are still found across a broad geographic area and are common in parts of their range. The IUCN considers the Veery to be a species of "Least Concern"

Further Information:

Photo Information:

July 8th, 2008 - Near Roughlock Falls in Spearfish Canyon - Terry Sohl

Additional Photos:

Click on the image chips or text links below for additional, higher-resolution Veery photos.

Audio File Credits:

Click on the map below for a higher-resolution view
Veery - Range Map
South Dakota Status: Veeries are rare migrants throughout most of the state.  However, they are locally common in the extreme northeastern part of the state, and in Spearfish Canyon in the Black Hills.  They are rare summer residents elsewhere in the Black Hills.

Additional Veery Photos
 Veery 1 - Catharus fuscescensVeery 2 - Catharus fuscescensVeery 3 - Catharus fuscescensVeery 4 - Catharus fuscescensVeery 5 - Catharus fuscescens