Bird with light blue-during migration?

dandy_line (Z3b N Cent Mn)

9 years ago

I have never seen this bird before. It was very tame and let me approach right up to it. What is it?

Comments (5)

catherinet
9 years ago
A juvenile bluebird?
birding_nut
9 years ago
It looks to be a first-year (hatched this year) Swainson's Thrush. The blue you are seeing is actually more likely gray. The overall coloring of the bird (olive-brown), breast spots centered on the breast fading to the belly, and the very bold eye-ring point to Swainson's Thrush. This bird is either sick or it collided with something (the splayed leg visible is in indicator all is not right) probably is the reason you could get so close.

BN
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dandy_line (Z3b N Cent Mn)
Original Author
9 years ago
Thanks for the updates. I am providing another view. I think what looked like a foot problem is just a pine needle. There is definite blue that I saw on the bird. Not sure if that helps.
birding_nut
9 years ago
Definitely not a bluebird. A juvenile (1st year) bluebird would have primaries, primary coverts, secondries and tail feathers that are blue. The back would be heavily spotted and the spotting on the front would extend all the way down to the belly and sides of the bird. This bird shows none of those characteristics but is a dead ringer for a Swainson's Thrush. If you do a google search for juvenile Eastern Bluebird and you will see the characteristics I mentioned above.

Hope that helps.

BN
dandy_line (Z3b N Cent Mn)
Original Author
9 years ago
Ok, I'll go with that since I have practically no birding knowledge. I'm not sure why the web site isn't showing geo data but I'm in central Mn, if that helps at all.
Thanks for the info.

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Bird with light blue-during migration?

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catherinet

birding_nut

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Bird with light blue-during migration?

Comments (5)

catherinet

birding_nut

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dandy_line (Z3b N Cent Mn)Original Author

birding_nut

dandy_line (Z3b N Cent Mn)Original Author

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dandy_line (Z3b N Cent Mn)
Original Author

dandy_line (Z3b N Cent Mn)
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