Habitat
Dense montane forests of balsam fir and red spruce. In Canada, also regenerating clear-cuts and coastal areas with spruce-fir at low elevations. In winter, in moist broadleaved and mixed pine-broadleaved montane forests and secondary woodlands. From 450 - 2,200 m.
Canada (B), Cuba (NB), Dominican Republic (NB), Haiti (NB), Jamaica (NB), Puerto Rico (NB), USA (B).
Vagrant to Virgin Islands (U.S.).
Eastern Canada and north-eastern USA. Non-breeding mainly Hispaniola, also eastern Cuba, Jamaica and Puerto Rico.
 
Population
Estimated population is 21,000 - 53,000 (2010) and decreasing.
Status VU
Habitat destruction and degradation by conversion to agriculture are the main threats.
For more information see BirdLife International Species Factsheet.
Voice
Song is a high-pitched 'chook-chook wee-o wee-o wee-o-tee-t-ter-ee' descending at end. Call is a harsh, slurred, whistle.
Bicknell's Thrush (Catharus bicknelli) [XC285328]
by id from Elkins Park, United States (flight call, uncertain, id uncertain)
Bicknell's Thrush (Catharus bicknelli) [XC154951]
by Lance A. M. Benner from Zapoten, Dominican Republic (call)
Subspecies
No subspecies.
Catharus minimus (Sibley and Monroe 1990, 1993) has been split into Grey-cheeked Thrush (Catharus minimus) and Bicknell's Thrush (Catharus bicknelli) following AOU (1998).
Formerly placed in Hylocichla, along with Veery (Catharus fuscescens), Grey-cheeked Thrush (Catharus minimus), Swainson's Thrush (Catharus ustulatus) and Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus). Until recently treated as conspecific with Grey-cheeked Thrush (Catharus minimus), and vocal, morphological and even biochemical differences very subtle, but seemingly parapatric breeding and probably discrete winter distributions suggest species-level separation just tenable. Nonetheless, intermediates between the two taxa occur, and Newfoundland population of present species approaches Grey-cheeked Thrush (Catharus minimus) in size and coloration.
Similar Species
Grey-cheeked Thrush (Catharus minimus) which is larger and browner above with paler lores, buffier on breast and has yellow (not pink) on lower mandible, Swainson's Thrush (Catharus ustulatus) which shows distinct eye-ring, Veery (Catharus fuscescens) which is redder above and more finely spotted below, and Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus)which shows a rufous tail.
References
See References.