[jstonge]

Southeast Michigan.
I saw this bird this morning. It was flitting about in the high branches of some tall trees. I thought it was an ovenbird, but I kept trying to see the top of its head to verify. I got some good looks at it but could never see stripes on the top of the head. Maybe they weren't there, maybe it was because the bird was up high in the trees.

Although it seemed to be a curious bird, which made me think ovenbird, the fact that it spent a lot of time up in the trees and because I couldn't see the stripes on the head made me think that maybe it was some other species, perhaps one of the thrushes.

What do you experts think?
Thanks.

[atricapillus]

Originally Posted by jstonge

Southeast Michigan.
I saw this bird this morning. It was flitting about in the high branches of some tall trees. I thought it was an ovenbird, but I kept trying to see the top of its head to verify. I got some good looks at it but could never see stripes on the top of the head. Maybe they weren't there, maybe it was because the bird was up high in the trees.

Although it seemed to be a curious bird, which made me think ovenbird, the fact that it spent a lot of time up in the trees and because I couldn't see the stripes on the head made me think that maybe it was some other species, perhaps one of the thrushes.

What do you experts think?
Thanks.

_________________________________-
Well, its a thrush, and with the eye-ring/spectacle--would venture Swainson's.
CHEERS, JOE G

[jmorlan]

I agree with Swainson's Thrush. Nice buffy spectacles.

[Terry Smith]

Yep,

It's a Swainson's Thrush all right!

The Exmouth Birder

[jstonge]

Thanks. It sounds like it's a Swainson's Thrush.
But how do you rule out Hermit or Wood thrush?

[Bluetail]

Hermit Thrush would have slightly bolder, more well-defined breast spots than this bird and Wood Thrush even more so (plus it would be a much richer, reddish brown on the upperparts). I thought Swainson's too. But, given that the pic is not too sharp and it's difficult to tell the true colour of the upperparts, how do you rule out Veery?

[Thayeri]

Originally Posted by jstonge

Thanks. It sounds like it's a Swainson's Thrush.
But how do you rule out Hermit or Wood thrush?

LOL, I like your attitude!

At a glance the buffy eye ring does make one think Swainson's Thrush. But, those tones on the upperparts are very reddish and warm for eastern Swainson's, would work better on eastern Hermit Thrush. Now, the logical issue is that if the combination of light conditions and camera settings are warming up the rest of the bird -- how do we know that eye ring hasn't been warmed up too, or that it isn't more white than it appears?

Which is why I lean Swainson's overall, fairly strongly in fact, but want to see the tail before getting definitive that it is not a Hermit Thrush...

(As to Wood Thrush, no way, those are bolder birds in spotting, upperparts color and facial patterning. As for Veery, I like my Veery's a little warmer still, with less of an eye ring, and smaller, lower contrast spotting that is higher up -- but I couldn't rule it out entirely on that one photo, and I do like the flanks for Veery.)

[stuart winter]

Veery's tend to have speckles that match their upperpart colours, Swainson's show more contrast, with the eastern olive-backed race having very dark breast spotting.

[Bluetail]

Thanks, Stuart. Makes sense now you mention it. I'll remember that.