Mike,

I've just finished looking over "Identification of Hylocichla/Catharus
Thrushes. Part I." (Birding 32: 2. April 2000) which deals with
identification of Hermit Thrush (in part) and Part III (Birding 32: 4.
August 2000) which covers Gray-cheeked Thrush and note "some Pacific Coast
birds almost lack an eye-ring, and can show a face pattern suggestive of a
Gray-cheeked Thrush, as this individual [in the photo] does ... If seen in
right angle, the rufous tail (albeit not a bright one) of this individual
would confirm the identification of this individual as a Hermit Thrush." I
did not note any rufous in the tail, but this bird was in shadow and I could
have missed this. Despite effort, I have not refound this thrush, though I
and Richard Repp are still coaxing obvious Hermit Thrushes into view.

So, I am now wiser and more fully aware of the plumage variation of Hermit
Thrushes. However, during the three or four minutes I had these birds in
view together (coaxed by spishing), the Hermit behaved in characteristic
Hermit fashion, with its usual tail cocking posture. Never did the darker,
larger bird, behave in this manner. I don't know how much behaviour is worth
in the suite of characters one should check, however.

Thanks for your post and help on this.

Andy Stepniewski
Wapato WA
steppie at nwinfo.net

----- Original Message -----
From: Mike Patterson <celata at pacifier.com>
To: <steppie at nwinfo.net>
Cc: TWEETERS <tweeters at u.washington.edu>; <BirdYak at yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Friday, October 04, 2002 11:26 AM
Subject: Re: Gray-cheeked Thrush?


> While Gray-cheeked vagrants are a very distinct possiblilty
> and should always be looked for AND this report should be
> thoroughly followed up upon and photographed, it should be
> noted that Hermit Thrushes in the Pacific Northwest come in
> 3 color types and 3 sizes based on the subspecies.
>
> The largest is "Audubon's" Hermit Thrush averages 7.5 to 8 inches
> and is fairly gray with reduced rufous in the tail.
>
> At the other end is "Dwarf" Hermit Thrush which runs 5 to 6 inches
> and is a deep reddish brown.
>
> In between are several subspecies which make up color and size
> gradiations.
>
> Those used to seeing Hermits in a particular part of the state
> could easily mistake one of these other types for something more
> exoctic.
>
> Though we're a bit out of range to catch the really big "Audubon's"
> at the Neawanna, check out the variation in those we have caught at:
>
> http://home.pacifier.com/~neawanna/observatory/heth.html
>
> Andy Stepniewski wrote:
> >
> > Tweeters,
> >
> > At 9:30 am this morning (4 October), while taking a break from work, I
> > donned my binos to see what migrants might be in the garden (Wapato WA).
The
> > first fog of the fall season had just cleared and robins and Northern
> > Flickers, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Cedar Waxwings, American Robins, and
> > Yellow-rumped Warblers seemed everywhere in the trees. By and by I heard
> > "thup" calls from thrushes, but which kind? I squeked a Hermit into a
dead
> > oak branch above thick brush. Seconds later another thrush popped into
view,
> > only 3 feet away from the Hermit, and on the same horizontal branch. It
was
> > distinctly larger (say 1/2 inch), with an incomplete (distal half only)
> > eye-ring, plain gray-brown face, no buffish spectacles, dark brown
> > upperparts (same hue as nearby Fox Sparrow upperparts), including tail.
> > Below, the breast spotting was heavier and larger than the Hermit. Its
> > flanks were darker gray than the nearby Hermit, also.
> >
> > What was most noticeable was its larger size. There is no chance for
error
> > due to perspective in this detail, as I was observing the Hermit at the
same
> > distance.
> >
> > I am aware of the pitfalls in identification of Catharus thrushes, so
label
> > this sighting as hypothetical. I will attempt to get photographers out
this
> > morning.
> >
> > Andy Stepniewski
> > Wapato WA
> > steppie at nwinfo.net
>
> --
> Mike Patterson
> Astoria, OR
> celata at pacifier.com
>
> A child who becomes acquainted with the birds about him
> hears every sound and puzzles out its meaning with a cleverness
> that amazes those with ears who hear not.
>
> -Neltje Blanchan
>
> http://www.pacifier.com/~mpatters/bird/bird.html