Verification of Unusual Sight Record
For Utah

Rec. # 2006-08(R82)
(Transcribed by M. G. Moody)


Common name:

Wood Thrush

Scientific name: Hylocichla mustelina
Date: 8 March´82
Time: 12:30 noon
Length of time observed: 2 hours
Number: one
Age: ? juvenile or female
Sex: Unknown (basic plumage)
Location: Holladay, Utah
County: Salt Lake
Latilong:  
Elevation:  
Distance to bird: Approx. 85 Ft.
Optical equipment: 8x40 Binoculars
Weather: Full Sun 
Prior weather / number of days since change:  Previous 2 days were sunny.
Light Conditions: Very Good
Description:        Size of bird:  
(Description:)       Basic Shape:  
(Description:)  Overall Pattern:  
(Description:)            Bill Type:  
(Description:)                              
Field Marks and
Identifying Characteristics:
Forehead, crown, nape, back, wings and tail is light rufous.
Eye - Dark with eye ring.
Ear - faint horizontal lines.
Mustache (whiskers) Dark.
Throat between whiskers light in color with no dark coloring.
Beak - typical thrush-like, long + med. heavy. Lighter in color at base of lower mandable and gradually becoming darker at the tip.
Breast and Sides heavily spotted. 
Wings have a faint suggestion of wing bars with feathers very lightly tipped with white.
Tarsus light in color.
Under Tail in vent area is light - a pale yellow or buff color.

Variations from expected filed marks: I expected to see darker horizontal lines on the earpatch.  This could be a juvenile or female.  I wasn´t able to determine.

Song or call & method of delivery: We heard no sounds.
Behavior: The food searching habit was to flip aside unwanted material with (head) + beak  - with a sweeping motion.  Seemed to ignore other birds at this time.
Habitat: Wooded area with small stream near by -- bird was feeding among the thicket, trees, shrub and flower beds in a private, secluded residence.
Similar species and how
were they eliminated:
Both Robin and Hermit Thrush were present for comparison.  At times both were as close as 2 ft. to the Wood Thrush.  This bird is approx. 8 1-2 inches long.  More chunky (fat) than the hermit thrush, but not quite as large as the robin.
Previous experience with
this & similar species:
Have seen many in eastern U.S.A.
References consulted:  
Description from: Notes made at time of sighting
Observer: Helen S. Chindgren
Observer's address: 4726 Wallace Lane, Salt Lake City, UT.  84117
Observer's e-mail address:  
Other observers who independently identified this bird: Louise Hollander
Date prepared: (Mar 1982)
Additional material:  
Additional comments: