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Swainson's thrush?

12 years ago

I think that's what this is. AKA olive-backed thrush. But.....why is it so rufous on its back? I've read there's a Russet-backed Swainson's thrush......but I don't think it should be here in Indiana. I think its on the west coast.
What do you think?

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Comments (8)

tucker_sp
12 years ago
Hermit thrush?

Tucker
tmff
12 years ago
Great pictures of this Catharus. You captured all I need to ID this as a Hermit Thrush, as Tucker suggested. The contrast of a rufous tail and wing panels against otherwise grayish-brown upperparts is key.
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catherinet
Original Author
12 years ago
Thanks Tucker and TMFF!

I'm not sure I've ever seen a Hermit thrush before......or maybe I was calling it something else.
I should have looked a little further in my bird book......as it says its reddish tail is its mark.

Its been hanging out in the gravel driveway outside my kitchen window. There are a couple of them. It keeps picking up things out of the drive......not sure what. It seems to stand still alot. Maybe its just thinking? :)

Thanks again!
tmff
12 years ago
Hermit Thrushes are neat little things, I think. I absolutely love their spring song. Sounds like someone blowing through a flexible conduit pipe.

Here is a link that might be useful: http://www.xeno-canto.org/144121 Hermit Thrush
catherinet
Original Author
12 years ago
Hmmm.....makes me wonder if what I was hearing all summer was a hermit thrush. I was thinking it was a wood thrush. Are they pretty similar in song?
I got a recording of the one that sang in our front yard this summer, but I don't know how to transfer it so others can hear it.
Are they a bit smaller than other thrushes?
tmff
12 years ago
If you heard it all summer it was probably a Wood Thrush due to their normal summer ranges. They have a similar vocal quality (conduit pipe) to the Hermit Thrush but the Wood Thrush is more melodic. In Indiana, you'll probably only hear the Hermit Thrush on spring migration.
catherinet
Original Author
12 years ago
Thanks TMFF! Too bad the hermits aren't singing now, and I could i.d. it. I figured they were heading south and just passin' through. I'm glad they did though.
Saw several brown creepers today.
tmff
12 years ago
Love those! You're getting some great birds!

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