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Swainson's thrush or hermit thrush? (1 Viewer)

O

ojane

New member
I'm leaning more towards Swainson's thrush.
I found this guy on my front porch, probably the victim of a window crash... Apart from identification, can someone help me? I read that I'm not allowed to move the bird, so who should I contact? Are there any wildlife agencies that would benefit from collecting this bird?

Thanks
 

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The picture doesn't seem to be showing up. The best way to separate the two is the facial pattern (buffy eyering and lores on Swainson's) and the tail (rusty red on Hermit).

The Field Museum probably has a collection of birds, but I've no idea who there you would contact. http://fieldmuseum.org/

Alternatively, the best thing to do might be to look into way to bird-proof your windows. Some suggestions here:
http://www.allaboutbirds.org/page.aspx?pid=1184
http://www.birdwatchersdigest.com/bwdsite/learn/top10/windowstrikes.php
 
Agree, Veery. The overall warm brown back is dianostic; other N.A. "spotted" thrushes either have a darker backs or have a contrast between back and tail, or back and head.
 
The 'weight' of the lateral throat stripe and the rather heavy, dark spots on the underside would preclude Veery IMO. It appears to have a full eyering ( although it is difficult to make out, even in photo #2 ) which would suggest a Swainsons, albeit at the extreme russet end of the scale.
 
ojane said:
I read that I'm not allowed to move the bird, so who should I contact? Are there any wildlife agencies that would benefit from collecting this bird?
Click to expand...

If it's still reasonably fresh, I'd put it in a plastic bag, stick it in the freezer and phone the nearest university biology department to see if they have any use for it and if not if they could advise who might. If there are no takers, I would just toss it. I can't imagine there's a law against this and certainly not one that any sensible person should pay the slightest attention to.

I notice this is your first post to Bird Forum. Welcome aboard, it's always good to see new faces. Hope you stick around.
 
fugl said:
If it's still reasonably fresh, I'd put it in a plastic bag, stick it in the freezer and phone the nearest university biology department to see if they have any use for it and if not if they could advise who might. If there are no takers, I would just toss it. I can't imagine there's a law against this and certainly not one that any sensible person should pay the slightest attention to.

I notice this is your first post to Bird Forum. Welcome aboard, it's always good to see new faces. Hope you stick around.
Click to expand...

That's exactly what I was going to recommend
 
fugl said:
If it's still reasonably fresh, I'd put it in a plastic bag, stick it in the freezer and phone the nearest university biology department to see if they have any use for it and if not if they could advise who might. If there are no takers, I would just toss it. I can't imagine there's a law against this and certainly not one that any sensible person should pay the slightest attention to.

I notice this is your first post to Bird Forum. Welcome aboard, it's always good to see new faces. Hope you stick around.
Click to expand...

Being a museum ornithologist, I agree with this. But, place a paper in the ziploc with date and location and name of person who found it. Specimens without date/locale data are just about worthless.

Andy
Collections Manager, Florida Museum of Natural History
 
Kratter said:
Being a museum ornithologist, I agree with this. But, place a paper in the ziploc with date and location and name of person who found it. Specimens without date/locale data are just about worthless.
Click to expand...
Agreed; and add to that, the presumed cause of death (window strike).
 
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