The Spring 2005 migration through coastal Texas saw a tremendous number of Catharus thrushes in evidence. Of the numerous Grey-cheeked Thrush-types that I saw, this one on May 8th at Paradise Pond, Port Aransas, Nueces county was exceptional in that it was a dark fuscous-brown throughout... rather similar to a very dark "Western/Newfoundland" Veery C. f. salicicolus/fuliginosus/subpallidus but with far too much underside spotting plus brown-washed flanks.
To see other Grey-cheeked Thrush-types from the same place and period, CLICK HERE and scroll down past the Veery section.
I'd be keen to hear about any other instances of "fuscous" Grey-cheeked Thrushes, thanks.
NOTE: for each image there are two versions - the upper one being the original as taken with my camera settings (at the time slightly biased towards the warm side); the lower one being that rendered by Photoshop 3's "autofix" feature:
FOR COMPARISON HERE IS A MORE-TYPICAL GCTH PHOTOGRAPHED AT THE SAME LOCATION AND TIME:
BACK TO THE "FUSCOUS" GCTH:
This view allows a study of the primary-tip morphology: it is typical of GCTH (per Pyle's ID Guide) in that P8 is obviously > P7; P9 is obviously > P6; P8 and P7 strongly emarginated with P6 slightly emarginated. Pyle's ID Guide shows BITH as having P8 = P7; P9 = P6 (or > by a tiny amount); to see a possible BITH from the same place and date as this fuscous bird, CLICK HERE. :
