Varied Thrush - Sonoma County Bird Alert

December 3, 2006 on 6:55 pm | In Bird Alert |

Greetings!
We’re excited to be posting our very first Sonoma County Bird alert. And, what better bird to be starting out with than the thrilling Varied Thrush?

Identifying the Varied Thrush

First, please take a look at my sketch here of the Varied Thrush.

You’ll be looking for an American Robin-sized bird (about 9″-10″). Remember that American Robins are, in fact, Thrushes, and you’ll often see the two fowls together in winter. Their shape is quite similar, though the Thrush has a somewhat more slender form. What really sets these relatives apart is color. As brilliantly orange and inky black as a Victorian Hallowe’en card, the Varied Thrush’s hues are only really comparable to those of the Northern Oriole. You’ll see orange on the throat and breast, as an eyebrow stripe and barring the wing feathers. If you’re lucky enough to draw carefully near to the bird, take a close look at the orange feathers, and you’ll note that they resemble the scales of a koi fish - or at least- we think so. Hummingbirds are another bird that shows this type of intricate ’scaling’. The effect is marvelous. The Varied Thrush has a black cap, black eye stripe and necklace, black wing bars alternating with the orange and a long black tail. Note the long, slightly curved black beak, orange legs and apricot plumage under the tail. The eyes are large, black and alert.

Where to see the Varied Thrush right now in Sonoma County

Jack London State Park in Glen Ellen, California! Yes, strike while the iron is hot, friends, because the Varied Thrush is a winter visitor to our area. We are extremely fortunate to be living on the slim edge of California that these birds choose to grace. Folks in the east are out of luck here, but do come visit if you want to see one of America’s grandest birds. The Varied Thrush works its way down from western Canada and the Pacific Northwest to spend yuletide in the parks of our very own region. This week, our search was rewarded with not a handful, but a hill-full of Thrushes in one of the finest state parks you’ll ever visit.

If you don’t know how to get to Jack London State Park, visit this
Jack London State Park page of this government site for more details. However, once you are inside the park, and you go through the toll booth, paying your $6, you’ll be immediately turning right into the upper parking lot (not the lower one that leads down to the historic Wolf House ruins). Go to the very farthest end of the parking lot and park your car there.
Then, use this map we’ve created to seek out the Varied Thrushes we saw there this week. A close look at the map will also show you some of the other wonderful wild birds we encountered on just one single walk through this lively area of the park.

There were, in fact, a few thrushes right where we parked our car, but the real bonanza was up at the lake. The trees were literally shaking with thrushes. What a sight!

Our Field Notes on the Varied Thrush
My very first identification of a this wild bird was up in the new-fallen snow on Mt. St. Helena. Its vibrancy against the white blankness was an image I shall carry forever as one of the finest visions of my life. I wondered then if I would ever be lucky enough to see one again. Thus, my great joy over this week’s experience in the park.

We were able to make some interesting observations this time. The first was that, if thrushes don’t want to be seen, you’re going to have a hard time glimpsing them. Up in the canopies of Jack London’s eucalyptus grove, and the evergreens near the lake, we often stared and stared trying to see a bird we could hear, without being able to discern it. Odd, when you consider its extreme lack of natural camouflage.

As mentioned above, the Thrushes were mingling with American Robins and did not seem to be having territorial disputes.

Sound is an important factor here. You will catch the peculiar, curt, sucking note when the birds are near. Our bird guide tells us that these birds also buzz and whistle, but we did not hear them doing this in Jack London State Park. You can visit Cornell University’s peerless birding website to hear some Varied Thrush calls.

One interesting note should be added here about movement. We observed the birds zipping across the horizonal evergreen branches in a series of incredibly rapid, two-footed hops. They went from head to tip of the branch almost faster than our eyes could follow! Very agile. The flight is dart-like, with a very pretty form when in motion.

Final Notes on this Fine Bird
The Varied Thrush appears to favor coniferous forests, and is reputed to inhabit regions with good water sources. It builds a cup-shaped nest of twigs in a tree, and lays 3-5 light blue, spotted eggs. It feeds on insects and worms.

As we’ve mentioned elsewhere, we are not great hikers. The walk up to the lake is about a mile, and you’ll need to manage the mile back to the car, too. Wear good shoes, and at this time of year, warm clothing. It’s cold up in that evergreen forest. Remember that moving silently is the best way to draw near to wild birds, and frowning sternly at inconsiderate hikers who appear to enjoy shouting conversation at the tops of their lungs as they trample forest paths may help to promote a more peaceful atmosphere in the park. When my husband and I are in the wilderness, we whisper, and even try not to crunch leaves, and this has brought us within a few feet of deer, coyotes, squirrels, and a host of fascinating birds. Teach your children to be respectful of the forest if you want them to benefit from its wonders.

Our day with the Varied Thrushes was truly a gift to us, and well worth the exertion it took to get up to the little lake and back. Between our huffings and puffings, as we flung our tired selves into the seats of our car, the smiles on our faces were as bright as the jewel-toned plumes of these magnificent wild birds.