ML28292021

Age and sex

Adult, Unknown sex - X

Media notes

This photo documents this as a Hermit Thrush: First, it has the shape and general appearance of a Catharus thrush. It has white, not buffy, eye ring, lores, and breast, these features ruling out Swainson's Thrush, which, anyhow, is very unlikely before some time in April (unlike Hermit, which may be found at this time with notable likelihood). Gray-cheeked Thrush is even more improbable at this time, and it is ruled out by the rather bold, white eye ring, whereas Gray-cheeked has a minimal and incomplete eye ring. Pro-Hermit evidence includes the fact that it has a ruddy tail, which ruddiness is evinced by the outer tail feathers, even though the tail is seen from below. Additionally, careful inspection of the photo shows reddish-buff coloration on both flight feathers and some wing coverts, very much in line with Hermit Thrush. Wood Thrush is easily dismissed on several grounds, and perhaps the most evident from this photo are the solidly colored face and auriculars, versus the face and auriculars of Wood Thrush, which are achromatic, involving black markings on a white ground (or perhaps conceivable as white-on-black).

Observation details

This bird was found in a tree immediately south of the wooden bridge across the oxbow. It would leave briefly and return very soon. I decided to photograph it the next time it appeared, and it did reappear and posed nicely in the aforementioned tree -- very shortly before we got our first look at the Flame-colored Tanager.

Technical information

Model

COOLPIX P520

ISO

800

Focal length

180 mm

Flash

Flash did not fire, auto

f-stop

f/5.9

Shutter speed

1/250 sec

Dimensions

1939 pixels x 1385 pixels

Original file size

541.61 KB