Thrush ID Central Texas (1 Viewer)

[Phil Carter]

Maybe. But, it's still not a Hermit. At least not in my monitor. |;|

I couldn't find a "clutching at straws" smiley.

Phil

 

[Larry Lade]

I am still not entirely convinced that the bird is a Swainson's, but I do find these two (Swainson's & Gray-cheeked) not all that easy to differentiate. Still leaning towards the Gray-cheeked though!

 

[Microtus]

I couldn't find a "clutching at straws" smiley.

Phil

That's something to be added at the next Forum upgrade.

 

[chris butterworth]

Just in case people thought all Swainsons looked alike - something to ponder http://earbirding.com/blog/archives/4417

Chris

 

[Sandhill Crane Lover]

Here's another vote for Swainson's Thrush. One thing that I noticed while searching photos of Swainson's Thrush and Gray-Cheeked Thrush, is that many of the birds in the photos I looked at of Gray-Cheeked Thrush all had yellow coloring at the base of the lower mandible, while in the Swainson's, they all had dull pink coloring (which is what this bird appears to have). I don't think this is a reliable identification mark, but I found it very interesting.

 

[DarkFireFalcon]

(I've never seen one, but I do know somebody who caught a Catharus thrush which fit all the biometrics (various measurements, like wing and tail) of Bicknell's, but otherwise looked like a Gray-cheeked. The problem was, he caught it in Toronto, which is nowhere near where Bicknell's should be (not that birds pay a lot of attention to what the field guides tell them). I don't know what he called it, in the end.)

Peter

It's worth noting that Bicknell's breed in the Adirondack Mountains of New York, and there are at least 4 accepted records for southern Ontario, though I've been told that even in the hand measurements aren't 100% reliable..

Also, in regards to hyrbid thrushes, I found this: http://10000birds.com/hybrid-thrush-found-in-vermont.htm

Even so, hybrid thrushes are extremely rare.

As I mentioned before, th amount of contrast in the face of this bird is too much for a Gray-cheeked (or Bicknell's) thrush, and looks fine for a Swainson's Thrush.