Could be a Swainson's; could be a Hermit; could conceivably be a Grey-cheeked. As always, it would be easier to ID if you told us where the photo was taken and what time of year.
Notes: white eye-ring argues for Hermit's, a Swainson's would be buffier. Red spots argue for Swainson's, a Hermit's should be darker. Face neither strongly rufous (Swainson's) or grey (Grey-cheeked). Tail angle not good, but no distinctive red, which argues for Hermit. There's much geographic variation in these species, which is why location is so important.
Posted by wade pettitt on June 28, 2010 at 6:13 AM
Sorry jim, this was taken in portland Oregon.
Posted by Jeff Loomis on June 28, 2010 at 10:18 AM
Honestly, I was thinking Veery until you said it was taken in Oregon. At this point, I'll defer to birders with more experience with thrushes in the west. Nice image though.
Thanks, Wade. I can't be entirely certain from the photo, but I think it is likely a Hermit Thrush. The eye ring is very strong. BNA says,
Swainson’s Thrush, especially the browner, more rufescent Pacific races, “Russet-backed Thrushes,” sometimes confused with Hermit Thrush, but Swainson’s has bolder, distinctly buff eye-ring and line over lores, and strong buff wash to lower cheeks and breast.
This bird doesn't have a line over the lores, and the lower cheeks are grey, not buff. And the eye ring is white, not buff.
I hope Richard Ditch sees this thread; he sees more of the Pacific races of Catharus thrushes than I do.
If you had a chance to observe it, did you get a tail color? Rust-colored or brown? Did it twitch its tail up and down (up fast, down slow)?
The Catharus thrushes are a lot more difficult here in AZ than they were in NJ, and I haven't gotten comfortable with them yet. Hermit Thrush is by far the most numerous, and I see them every winter at Boyce Thompson Arboretum and rarely closer to Phoenix. I rarely see Swainson's Thrush (unless I mis identify most of them).
Almost every year there are reports of Veery from southeastern AZ - often from Madera Canyon. None are ever confirmed, and there's always a lot of speculation on the AZ list that these birds are Swainson's. Here's a typical report from May of 2005: " there were two russet-backed SWAINSON'S THRUSHES, one very bright with a reduced eye-ring (pseudo-Veery type)." My guess is this bird might get reported as a Veery by birders visiting AZ from the east, and called a Swainson's by more experienced AZ birders. I would want to see more rufous in the tail before I called it a Hermit.
But I'm just guessing. Here's a bird I shot on 5/15/08 at Boyce Thompson Arboretum that I labeled as a Swainson's Thrush, but I wouldn't be surprised if it was a Hermit.
And did I mentioned that the Catharus thrushes hybridize?
So there you have it. Richard, who is a much better birder than me, would call it a Swainson's unless he could see more rufous in the tail; I'd call it a Hermit, but wouldn't be surprised if it was a Swainson's. This this genus, so much of the ID depends upon behavior (the tail twitch I mentioned, for example) and voice (which are pretty different).
Cindy Mead is also very good at identification; maybe she will see this message and jump in... Or you could email her privately and ask her to look at it.
Posted by wade pettitt on June 28, 2010 at 6:51 PM
Jim thanks so much for your help!, this bird did not bob or twitch its tail. All I can tell you is that it was VERY shy, one movement of the lens through the camo material would send it off in a hurry.
Posted by Nate Chappell on June 30, 2010 at 12:07 AM
I think it's a Swainson's for the reasons Cindy listed.
Discussion
9 repliesNotes: white eye-ring argues for Hermit's, a Swainson's would be buffier. Red spots argue for Swainson's, a Hermit's should be darker. Face neither strongly rufous (Swainson's) or grey (Grey-cheeked). Tail angle not good, but no distinctive red, which argues for Hermit. There's much geographic variation in these species, which is why location is so important.
This bird doesn't have a line over the lores, and the lower cheeks are grey, not buff. And the eye ring is white, not buff.
I hope Richard Ditch sees this thread; he sees more of the Pacific races of Catharus thrushes than I do.
If you had a chance to observe it, did you get a tail color? Rust-colored or brown? Did it twitch its tail up and down (up fast, down slow)?
Almost every year there are reports of Veery from southeastern AZ - often from Madera Canyon. None are ever confirmed, and there's always a lot of speculation on the AZ list that these birds are Swainson's. Here's a typical report from May of 2005: " there were two russet-backed SWAINSON'S THRUSHES, one very bright with a reduced eye-ring (pseudo-Veery type)." My guess is this bird might get reported as a Veery by birders visiting AZ from the east, and called a Swainson's by more experienced AZ birders. I would want to see more rufous in the tail before I called it a Hermit.
But I'm just guessing. Here's a bird I shot on 5/15/08 at Boyce Thompson Arboretum that I labeled as a Swainson's Thrush, but I wouldn't be surprised if it was a Hermit.
So there you have it. Richard, who is a much better birder than me, would call it a Swainson's unless he could see more rufous in the tail; I'd call it a Hermit, but wouldn't be surprised if it was a Swainson's. This this genus, so much of the ID depends upon behavior (the tail twitch I mentioned, for example) and voice (which are pretty different).
Cindy Mead is also very good at identification; maybe she will see this message and jump in... Or you could email her privately and ask her to look at it.