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Eastern Massachusetts bird ID (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter dmriche
- Start date
nartreb
Speak softly and carry a long lens
Ooh, a thrush. Telling the species can be tricky. It helps to watch behavior and listen for calls. Exact location (elevation, type of trees) can help too. Three things to compare very closely: color of ring around eye; color, sharpness, and density of spots on breast; and color of tail.
Based on location this time of year, the eye ring, and the dark breast spots, I'm going to say Hermit Thrush. Was it slightly reddish on top of the tail? Did it lift up its tail quickly and let it slowly drop?
Based on location this time of year, the eye ring, and the dark breast spots, I'm going to say Hermit Thrush. Was it slightly reddish on top of the tail? Did it lift up its tail quickly and let it slowly drop?
cavan wood
Well-known member
This time of year hermit is really the only possibility, and the field marks as mentioned support that.
Peter C.
...just zis guy, you know?
Well, Hermit Thrush is at the small end of spectrum, for thrushes - and therefore about on par with the largest of the sparrows you're likely to get (Fox).
But the bill shape on your bird is a good place to start - straight and somewhat thin in profile, very un-sparrow-like. Once you've got that, I think that Hermit Thrush is the only likely candidate, given the season and your location.
Peter C.
