Help with a thrush

Need help identifying a bird? Please post your question here and if possible include a photo. Also let us know where and when you saw the bird. Other things that help are listing any field marks that stood out, behavioral information like how it walked, hopped or flew. This Forum is just for North American birds.
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MtnAg08
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Help with a thrush

Post by MtnAg08 »

Saw this thrush on a hike today near Minturn, CO. I know they're tough to narrow in. Unfortunately this one didn't make any noise so no sound to help. Thanks!
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lonesome55dove
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Re: Help with a thrush

Post by lonesome55dove »

Swainson's
Klickitat County, Washington, USA
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Charlie Spencer
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Re: Help with a thrush

Post by Charlie Spencer »

I sometimes have trouble with the eyering on a Swainson's.

Not on this bird, though!
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MtnAg08
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Re: Help with a thrush

Post by MtnAg08 »

lonesome55dove wrote: Tue Jul 28, 2026 5:48 pmSwainson's
Thank's that's what I figured. For some reason all the ID by photo sites (which I find to be very hit and miss) always want to say Hermit for the Swainson's I've seen. For the Empids they always default to "either Hammonds or Alder's". I think all I've seen are Western lol. Don't know what about their system defaults to that on these birds.
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Re: Help with a thrush

Post by Charlie Spencer »

MtnAg08 wrote: Tue Jul 28, 2026 9:30 pm For some reason all the ID by photo sites (which I find to be very hit and miss) always want to say Hermit for the Swainson's I've seen. For the Empids they always default to "either Hammonds or Alder's". I think all I've seen are Western lol. Don't know what about their system defaults to that on these birds.
What sites, utilities, or apps are you trying?
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MtnAg08
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Re: Help with a thrush

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Re: Help with a thrush

Post by Charlie Spencer »

If you use eBird, try posting the photo to your checklist even if you're not sure of the ID. Doing that triggers the Merlin ID function. If it agrees with your ID, it will accept the photo without comment. If it thinks the bird is something else, it will flag it. You can then remove the photo before saving the checklist.
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