Bird Story Photography By Kathleen Bailey

Field Notes — 13 June 2026

  • An elderberry in the bill — Swainson’s Thrushes eat insects, berries, and soft fruits

  • Swainson's Thrush is often found on red elderberry bushes with ripe berries

  • Tucked among the elderberry, where the ripening fruit will soon feed the southbound migration.

Swainson's Thrush Catharus ustulatus Declining

Nisqually NWR · South Puget Sound · Spring and summer

Photographed from the public boardwalk, undisturbed.

A Thrush That Sings the Day Down

Swainson's Thrush - Identified so often by their beautiful song spiraling through the trees — but usually difficult to see

Photographed & written by Kathleen Bailey · ~4 min read

The beautiful flute-like song of the Swainson ‘s Thrush can be heard often this time of year, spiraling through the trees, but they can be hard to see. I was so happy to be able to photograph them recently at Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge.

Swainson’s Thrush migrate thousands of miles from Central America, arriving in WA state in May. They have an omnivorous diet of insects, berries and soft fruits. In the summer they fill up on berries to put on weight for the long flight back to Central America. Recently, I found the thrushes in red elderberry bushes in the Nisqually forest feasting on the berries, which are a crucial high-energy food. I was delighted to photograph several with an elderberry in the bill.

It’s wonderful that we have a plentiful supply of red elderberry here to feed the enchanting singers!

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