Varied Thrush! I will whole heartedly second that! Great choice and
perfect not to mention one of my most favorite North American birds! In
addition, one of the reasons (of several) I chose to live here at all in
Washington and the Pacific Northwest.

The whole goldfinch thing has always struck me as just plain weird.
Steller's Jay might be okay as might be Chestnut-backed Chickadee. Since our
neighbors to the north, BC, have already adopted Steller's Jay, maybe it's
best to give this one slide; they just beat us to it, that's all. And as for
Black Swift, I would dare to say that for probably 99% of John Q.
Washingtonian's, they wouldn't know a Black Swift from a bat if it hit them in the
face. And if one did so, most of that 99% (some birders too probably)
would go screaming off in mortal terror assuming it WAS a 'bat attack'. Maybe
American Dipper?...just a thought tossed into the discussion. Nothing
personal against Great Blue Heron, nice bird, but let's not go there since
there are good reasons already mentioned for giving this one a pass.

So, count my vote set in stone for Varied Thrush. Exactly like Tim
writes: "beautiful, spooky, whistly song, and it seems a bit more specialized to
the northwest than Steller's Jay." IMHO, Varied Thrush 'screams'
"WASHINGTON!!" and "Evergreen State!!" more than anything else I can think of. This
is way too easy as it is way too obvious. Great suggestion Tim!

Richard Rowlett
Bellevue/Eastgate


>>
Subject: Re: State Bird
From: Tim Brennan <tsbrennan AT hotmail.com>
Date: Tue, 8 Feb 2011 09:15:23 +0000
Varied Thrush!



Found in all of the counties in the state, and so much of its range in the

state is year round (except in the basin). I know there has been the
argument

that John Q Public should be able to recognize the bird (in which case the

Steller's Jay is the better choice), but I have to admit that ten years
ago, I

had no idea where one would even attempt to find an American Goldfinch! Of

course, that was back when I thought that Starlings were baby crows!





Total bias for Varied Thrush though. My favorite bird - beautiful, spooky

whistly song, and it seems a bit more specialized to the northwest than the

Steller's Jay.





All over the state: Steller's Jay and Varied Thrush

A bit more special to our state: Varied Thrush and Chestnut-backed Chickadee

ergo: Varied Thrush :)