The Bird Nuts Posted May 23, 2020 Share Posted May 23, 2020 I saw these thrushes yesterday in Vermont (not on a mountain). It seemed like there were two of them and they kept popping out of the woods and flying back in again, so I don't know if what I photographed are two different birds or not (although the last bird looks more like a Veery to me; it might be a different bird than the first three). Anyway, as I walked closer two Veeries flew out of the same area, so I was a bit confused. Are these just Veeries and the lighting or camera made their backs look less reddish? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Connor Cochrane Posted May 23, 2020 Share Posted May 23, 2020 I think the first three are Gray-cheeked/Bicknell’s. I would differentiate from berry by the darker spotting extending further down the breast and black uppper and the tip of lower mandible. Not a swainsons because no strong eyering. And it doesn’t appear to be a hermit. The last bird is confusing, but I think it’s a Veery in weird lighting. Pale spots, large pale Bill. I have no expirence with Veery or Gray-cheeked so I’m just going of what I know from the guides. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bird Nuts Posted May 23, 2020 Author Share Posted May 23, 2020 Thanks! That's what I was leaning as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bird Nuts Posted May 23, 2020 Author Share Posted May 23, 2020 I can see the different proportions in the face of the last one now. Has to be a Veery. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackburnian Posted May 23, 2020 Share Posted May 23, 2020 Agreed. GC for first three, Veery for 4. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bird Nuts Posted May 23, 2020 Author Share Posted May 23, 2020 1 hour ago, blackburnian said: Agreed. GC for first three, Veery for 4. Thanks! Can we rule out Bicknell's? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benjamin Posted May 23, 2020 Share Posted May 23, 2020 I've never had a Bicknell's, so take this for what it is, but I think the eye-ring looks fairly well defined, which is apparently suggestive of Bicknell's. Then again, the differences are very subtle and someone with experience with Bicknell's would probably be far more valuable to the conversation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bird Nuts Posted May 23, 2020 Author Share Posted May 23, 2020 (edited) Thanks. I've heard that they aren't distinguishable by sight alone, but I've wondered if there are subtle differences like with Alder and Willow Flycatchers that experts can pick out. It did have a very slight reddish tint to the tail and wings. Edited May 23, 2020 by The Bird Nuts Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benjamin Posted May 23, 2020 Share Posted May 23, 2020 @The Bird Nuts Exactly. I think there are a few field marks (including the eyering) that suggest one species over the other, but it's probably best to leave silent birds unidentified. Also, this is kind of unrelated, but when it comes to Traill's Flycatcher, I've kind of been wondering why people on this forum are so eager to assign IDs either way when I don't know that it's a settled debate whether or not these two species can actually be reliably separated without vocalization. Clearly, there are some general field marks that either species tends to have, but even banders struggle to identify birds in the hand without a vocalization. If most banders can't or don't feel comfortable doing it with the bird in the hand, why on earth are we doing it on an online forum from a few crappy photos? I'm legitimately curious to others' thoughts, and I'm open to being wrong here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bird Nuts Posted May 23, 2020 Author Share Posted May 23, 2020 Just now, Benjamin said: @The Bird Nuts Exactly. I think there are a few field marks (including the eyering) that suggest one species over the other, but it's probably best to leave silent birds unidentified. Also, this is kind of unrelated, but when it comes to Traill's Flycatcher, I've kind of been wondering why people on this forum are so eager to assign IDs either way when I don't know that it's a settled debate whether or not these two species can actually be reliably separated without vocalization. Clearly, there are some general field marks that either species tends to have, but even banders struggle to identify birds in the hand without a vocalization. If most banders can't or don't feel comfortable doing it with the bird in the hand, why on earth are we doing it on an online forum from a few crappy photos? I'm legitimately curious to others' thoughts, and I'm open to being wrong here. Out of likes! I am guilty of saying things like "Leaning Willow" but, yeah, we probably shouldn't be saying things like that because it gives the impression that they can be reliably identified by sight alone. I have reported this thrush as a Gray-cheeked/Bicknell's. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
birdbrain22 Posted May 23, 2020 Share Posted May 23, 2020 (edited) Correct to leave as Gray-cheeked/Bicknell's. There are subtle differences that are very hard to distinguish in the field... even when in hand there is overlap in measurements and we have to leave as Gray-cheeked/Bicknell's... so, I question all IDs without a vocalization. Also 4 is definite Veery. Edited May 23, 2020 by birdbrain22 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bird Nuts Posted May 23, 2020 Author Share Posted May 23, 2020 Great, thanks everyone! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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