Rare Bird Sighted in Pope-Chaucer Area

A flock of five rare Varied Thrush are frequenting the oak woodlands along the creek banks below Pope-Chaucer. Seen between 7 & 10 AM, they fly off if they see a person. Here's a peek of what we photographed by poking our camera around a corner.
The Varied Thrush is quite rarely sighted in developed areas, but can be seen in the densely forested areas of the Santa Cruz Mountains and Golden Gate Park.

Despite its high numbers, there is concern that the Varied Thrush may be decreasing. This secretive songbird is fond of wet, dense, inaccessible forests, so researchers have much to learn regarding even some of the basic aspects of its breeding biology. Learn more on the Audubon website. 

Varied Thrush is among our most handsome birds. It's no surprise that Sibley chose this bird for the cover of his field guide to Western birds, or that visitors from the East commonly say Varied Thrush is among the endemic Western species they most want to see while here. Its coloration--a mix of purplish greys and rusty orange hues--borders on the gaudy. A person dressed like this would be accused of lacking all fashion sense, but the Varied Thrush wears it well. The size, shape, and woodland habits of Varied Thrush may cause confusion with American Robin if backlit or at a distance, but the two birds are very differently colored. Male Varied Thrush (photo above) has a strong rust-colored stripe over the eye, a dark V-shaped band across the chest, and distinct orange wing bars with other orange patches in the wings--all lacking in the robin. Varied Thrush lacks the white eyering of the robin and the robin's white with black striping at the throat. A robin's bill is yellowish, while Varied Thrush has a mostly dark bill (although often with paler, yellow hints at the base). Female Varied Thrush looks like a washed-out version of the male. The breast band in particular is attenuated in the female. Juveniles look like females, but with a whitish, scaly-looking breast.  Source: A practical guide to bird watching in Sonoma County, California
The Sibley Field Guide to Birds of Western North America - back cover.

The Sibley Field Guide to Birds of Western North America - front cover.

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