A species endemic to western North America, the Varied Thrush is famous for its amazing song--a series of loud, ringing notes that echo through its mature and old-growth forest nesting habitat. Varied Thrush populations are unusual in that they show regular cycles with peaks of abundance about every two-years. Although the species primarily winters along the Pacific Coast from southern British Columbia to California, it is a rare but regular vagrant across eastern Canada and the U.S. This thrush lives on the shaded floor of coniferous forests. Like the American Robin, it feeds on earthworms and insects in open, bare areas. Because Varied Thrush prefers mature and old-growth coniferous habitat for breeding, it is susceptible to loss of such habitat especially through large clearcuts.