unknown birds from Phoenix AZ trip (1 Viewer)

[david.margrave]

These were taken at the botanical garden near scottsdale.

 

[macshark]

These were taken at the botanical garden near scottsdale.

The first one looks like a Curved-billed Thrasher, but I am no expert...

 

[Garrett Lau]

1. Curve-billed Thrasher
2. I don't know.
3. Hermit Thrush
4. Northern Mockingbird

 

[david.margrave]

1. Curve-billed Thrasher
2. I don't know.
3. Hermit Thrush
4. Northern Mockingbird

Thanks! That's a pretty good haul for one visit to the botanical garden. I also got some pictures of desert quail but didn't post them since they're known.

 

[Paul Collins]

Agree with all of those. The second bird is a Cactus Wren.

 

[goshawk227]

Curve-billed Thrasher.
Cactus Wren.
Hermit Thrush.
Northern Mockingbird.

 

[AlexC]

Agree with above. Hooray for agreeable mornings. :t:

 

[teunissen]

Hi,

I´m tring to improve my American species birding skills. Could anyone please tell me why the Hermit thrush isn´t a Swainssons thrush? What are the differences between those two species?

(And a small question about the Cactus wren. In the picture it has pink feet, but in the Sibley it is drawn with dark feet. Is it normal variation for a Catus wren to have pink feet?)

 

[Jeff Hopkins]

I can speak to the hermit thrush. The key is that the head and shoulders are olive and the rump is a warmer red-brown color. A Swainson's would be all olive.

 

[Microtus]

Pacific Swainson's Thrush populations are all russet above, not all olive like the eastern birds. I don't know how often they would appear in Arizona.

 

[Chris Benesh]

Hi All,

Regarding the Catharus thrush, the date that the photo was taken would help narrow things a bit. Hermit Thrush is always the most abundant species in Arizona, and it is the only one present during the winter months. We do get a fair number of russet-backed Swainson's Thrushes in migration, though at this season, they are in Mexico. These would be as bright on the rump as the mystery bird, but the rest of their upperparts would also be rusty, unlike the more olive toned mystery bird. Veery, Gray-cheeked are vagrants, and Bicknell's is unrecorded in the state. So the bird is a Hermit Thrush, as others have mentioned.

Chris

 

[david.margrave]

pics were taken 11/10/07.

 

[Jeff Hopkins]

Pacific Swainson's Thrush populations are all russet above, not all olive like the eastern birds. I don't know how often they would appear in Arizona.

Agreed, but the key to me is the contrast between the head and rump, rather than the absolute color.

 

[teunissen]

pfff, that's difficult, I really can't see the differences you are pointing out. I'll have to put some more effort in these species. But thanks anyway!