Veery or Hermit Thrush (1 Viewer)

[Jmacmetro]

Hi all, this bird seems to reddish all over for a Hermit, but Veerys should be gone from Bergen County NJ now. What do you think?
Thanks, Jim

 

[aeshna5]

Veery

 

[Jmacmetro]

Thanks aeshna, that's what I'm thinking too.

 

[KC Foggin]

Yup, a Veery.

 

[Jmacmetro]

Thanks guys

 

[The Bird Nuts]

This looks like a Hermit Thrush with the contrasting reddish tail and eyering.

 

[fugl]

Any shots of the underparts?

 

[Jmacmetro]

No, just shots from behind. sorry

 

[rkj]

This looks like a Hermit Thrush with the contrasting reddish tail and eyering.

I think the contrast between back and tail would be greater in a Hermit Thrush; Veery for me.

 

[birdmeister]

This looks like a Hermit Thrush with the contrasting reddish tail and eyering.

I would have gone with Hermit Thrush, too, especially considering the date.

I'm thinking that the lighting in the photo is creating the impression of a brighter back on the bird.

 

[Rapala]

I'm thinking that the lighting in the photo is creating the impression of a brighter back on the bird.

My thought as well. I can see a fairly distinct band across the rump where there is a transition from grayish-brown feathers of the back to the rufous color of the tail. However, this appearance seems to be lessened by the bright sunlight entering from the left side of the frame. I can still discern a zone in which the plumage transitions from cool-tone brownish-gray on the back to a warmer rufous color on the tail. There also appears to be contrasting rufous edging on the outer primaries, especially visible on the right side of the bird. I would expect any coloration here on a Veery to contrast less with the rest of the wing. Hermit for me.