Thrush ID help - Adams

[Jared Del Rosso]

Asking for a friend who's not a CO Birds poster: how would you all ID this thrush, apparently without an eye ring, seen at the Arsenal on May 12. He's received conflicting suggestions. (It seems like Gray-cheeked Thrushes moved through the area the past two days?) 

Link to Macaulay Library: https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/618941650

Link to eBird checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S174087061

If you prefer, you can email me and I'll pass the messages along.

Thanks!

- Jared Del Rosso

lonesomewhippoorwill.com

[Paula Hansley]

I think it’s a Veery.  Look at the very slight reddish hue of its back as well as other identifying features.

Paula Hansley

Boulder County

--
--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group.
To post to this group, send email to cob...@googlegroups.com
For more options, visit this group at
http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds
* All posts should be signed with the poster's full name and city. Include bird species and location in the subject line when appropriate.
* Join Colorado Field Ornithologists https://cobirds.org/membership/
---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to cobirds+u...@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/2014bc89-653c-4509-8918-5a00a073c113n%40googlegroups.com.

[greg.le...@protonmail.com]

Hi Jared,

It looks great for a Gray-cheeked to me (ignoring the unlikely possibility of a Bicknell's Thrush).  Some field marks per Birds of The World that particularly stand out on this bird:

• Distinct dark lines at sides of throat coalesce with prominent brownish-black triangular spots on lower throat and breast
  

• belly and sides marked with oval-shaped spots (spots wider than long) distinctly paler than breast spots. 

• cold grayish wash on flanks (this color similar to upperparts).

• Contrast between darker triangular anterior spots and pale oval posterior spots, combined with cold, grayish sides and flanks and minimal buff wash on breast highly distinctive.
  

Why it's not a...

Veery:  Breast spotting would be less distinct and smudgier.  Flanks would be brighter, and the upper parts should have at least some warm reddish tones, even on a duller western one.  

Hermit Thrush:  Should have at least an indistinct eye-ring, a tail and rump that contrast with the back more.  In the absence of a strongly contrasting tail, I would still expect to see brighter, contrasting primaries.

Swainson's Thrush:  Would have a buffy wash to the face, throat and upper breast, not to mention the typically bold eyering.

I am mostly familiar with Gray-cheeked from Alaska (and the northeast/mid-west a long time ago), but I wouldn't hesitate to ID this bird as one up there.  

Greg Levandoski

Longmont, CO