During the breeding season, Naumann's Thrush can be found in the taiga, mixed forests, and riparian woodlands of Siberia and northern East Asia. In winter, it moves to more open habitats like parks, gardens, cultivated fields, and open woodlands across eastern China, Korea, and Japan, often congregating in areas with abundant food sources.

Spotting Naumann's Thrush often involves looking for its characteristic ground-foraging behavior, where it hops and pauses to search for invertebrates or berries. Its plumage, with strong reddish-brown tones on the back, head, and flanks contrasted with a white belly, is quite distinctive. Its calls are sharp 'chuck' or 'chip' notes, often given in flight, while its song is a series of short, fluty phrases, though less complex than some other thrushes.

This species is most active during the early morning and late afternoon hours. It is a strict long-distance migrant, so it will be present in its Siberian breeding grounds from late spring through summer (May-July) and in its East Asian wintering grounds (e.g., Japan, Korea, China) from autumn to early spring (October-March). During migration periods, they can be seen at various stopover sites.