Swainson's Thrush colors
One of the i.d. challenges for birders in Oregon is to distinguish between Swainson's Thrush and Hermit Thrush. So when I found this (unfortunate) Swainson's dead on the road, it gave me a chance to look at some of the subtle colors closeup. Some of the details I try to "lock in" are the amount and coloration of the speckling on the breast, the lack of gray flank coloration, and the lack of much rusty coloration on the rump and tail of the Swainson's Thrush. Then, in a few weeks when the Swainson's are all gone to their wintering territory in Central and South America, I will have a chance to study the Hermits who stay here for the winter.
