- Black to dark gray head
- Broken eye ring
- Dull red breast and belly
- White undertail coverts
- Gray upperparts
- Streaked throat
- Thin yellow bill
- Sexes similar-female somewhat paler
- Winter plumage is somewhat paler than Summer    plumage
- Juveniles have spotted, whiter breasts
- Common in residential areas where it often forages on    lawns
- Often sings very early in morning
- Often found in large flocks outside of breeding season

Similar species
The very rare Rufous-backed Robin (southwestern United States) has a rufous, not gray, back. The Varied Thrush has a dark band across its breast and orange wing bars.