Tuesday, April 24, 2012

It's a Small World

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An American Goldfinch near the Administration Entrance at the Wastewater, Sunday.


And from Muskegon State Park, I watched 2 Black-capped Chickadee working on hollowing out a stump for a nest site. The White-throated Sparrow and Ruby-crowned Kinglet were curious observers. The last picture I need help. Having trouble finding a picture that puts all these attributes on the same bird. (Guess I need better books!) Don Neumann





7 comments:

Nathan DeBruine said...

Looks like Hermit Thrush

Don Neumann said...

Thanks Nathan I was thinking Alder Flycatcher due to the lack of brown

RichH Photography said...

Wouldn't a Hermit Thrush have more reddish color in it's tail?

Anonymous said...

I saw the chickadees doing that yesterday. Did see a hermit thrush and a red breasted nuthatch plus the bald eagles at Muskegon State Park

Ric said...

This angle isn't showing the red, but it sure looks like a Hermit Thrush.

Nathan DeBruine said...

Yes Hermit should definitely show more rufous in the tail than other thrushes. Just thought this birds overall shape went with Hermit, short, stocky and small with relatively complete white eye ring, probably not enough buff in the face for Swainson's, too spotty and not red enough for Veery, smaller and lighter than Wood, etc.  Maybe tail color is slightly distorted due to poor lighting/angle? Hermit are obviously the most likely right now, with the other thrushes just starting to come in. But I can't see wing length very well, and I don't see pale buffy tips on edges of the greater coverts. Would be curious to hear other opinions.

sissypants said...

Hermit thrush. Only reasonable alternative statistically is Swainson's Thrush. There is 1 (spurious) eBird record this year for SWTH and 2 (spurious) eBird records this year for VEER. GCTH are still way down there (in Chicago) as are WOTH (only 1 [spurious] arrival in Traverse City). Alder Flycatchers are still lounging in Texas/Louisiana.