Clay-colored Thrush? Cauca Valley, Colombia (1 Viewer)

[TomFriedel]

This photo from San Jerónimo, Cauca Valley, Antioquioa, Colombia came out nice so I certainly want to get the ID right. The Clay-colored Thrush is present here, although usually in the forest. The Pale-breasted Thrush is not here by the historical Natureserve maps, but there are plenty of eBird records. This bird does not have the characteristic brown color of the Clay-colored Thrush, and has a lot of contrast between front and back, and a streakier throat than that species normally has. I am also not sure what to make of the orange eye-ring. The Pale-breasted Thrush on the other hand seems to always have a brown wing that contrasts with the head and back, and does not have a yellow bill. There is a north Colombian subspecies of the Clay-colored Thrush, and I don't have information about this subspecies, but at least one photo I found shows a brown bird. Is there any way to get subspecies information without paying money to Cornell? I unsubscribed from that service when I didn't like changes they are making to the excellent HBW content.
thanks in advance,
Tom Friedel

 

[THE_FERN]

This photo from San Jerónimo, Cauca Valley, Antioquioa, Colombia came out nice so I certainly want to get the ID right. The Clay-colored Thrush is present here, although usually in the forest. The Pale-breasted Thrush is not here by the historical Natureserve maps, but there are plenty of eBird records. This bird does not have the characteristic brown color of the Clay-colored Thrush, and has a lot of contrast between front and back, and a streakier throat than that species normally has. I am also not sure what to make of the orange eye-ring. The Pale-breasted Thrush on the other hand seems to always have a brown wing that contrasts with the head and back, and does not have a yellow bill. There is a north Colombian subspecies of the Clay-colored Thrush, and I don't have information about this subspecies, but at least one photo I found shows a brown bird. Is there any way to get subspecies information without paying money to Cornell? I unsubscribed from that service when I didn't like changes they are making to the excellent HBW content.
thanks in advance,
Tom Friedel

Yes I think it's clay-coloured. There are various similar Macauley images like:

Clay-colored Thrush - Turdus grayi - Media Search - Macaulay Library and eBird

the images show the bill can be more or less clear yellow, and there can be more or less of an orange eye ring.

 

[TomFriedel]

Thank you. I now have also found one more like my image on Google Images, although not as many as you found on this link. I wonder why some are less brown than others.

 

[AveryBartels]

Also agreed with Clay-colored. There does seem to be a consistency in the pale/drabness of this species in the Cauca Valley, perhaps a response to the arid habitats?

 

[Butty]

found one more like my image on Google Images

Risky! Even lots of MacaulAy images are misidentified.

 

[TomFriedel]

Also agreed with Clay-colored. There does seem to be a consistency in the pale/drabness of this species in the Cauca Valley, perhaps a response to the arid habitats?

You have noticed this species is more grey in Colombia? I was thinking maybe because it was closer to the Pale-breasted Thrush or Ecuadorian Thrush, they might have some of the same genes.

 

[AveryBartels]

You have noticed this species is more grey in Colombia? I was thinking maybe because it was closer to the Pale-breasted Thrush or Ecuadorian Thrush, they might have some of the same genes.

Just looking through pics on ebird, they by and large seem greyer/drabber than on the coast/Central America. But maybe I'm imagining it.