ML645325480

Observation details

First-year bird. So-so doc digiscope shots. As is often the case, describing why this bird appears to be a Thayer's is problematic. It was a very clean, medium gray-brown overall with slightly paler back due to pale barring. The head was rounded and bill a bit shorter than Herring. Being mid-November, primaries are still pretty dark brown, but pale edges to tips were apparent. The tail was a medium brown, not really dark like Herring. Primaries were quite translucent from below with darker tips apparent; outer primaries were not as dark and opaque in their distal half like Herring. There is a small percentage of first-year Herrings that can really "imitate" the look of Thayer's, but I feel pretty confident that this bird is good.