248 THE VARIED THRUSH. 



No. 100. 

 VARIED THRUSH. 



A. O. U. No. 763. Ixoreus nsevius (Gmelin). 



Synonyms. — Mountain Robin. Winter Robin. Oregon Robi.x. Co- 

 LUMBi.\x RdDiN. \'aried Robin. Painted Robin. 



Description. — .Iditlt male: Above dark slate-color ( plumbeous slate to 

 blackisb slate), sometimes, especially in winter, tinged with olivaceous; wings 

 dusky edged more or less with slaty, the flight-feathers varied by ochraceous- 

 bufl", the middle and greater coverts tipped broadly with tawny or ochraceous 

 forming two conspicuous bars ; tail blackish, the outermost or several lateral 

 rectrices tipped with white on inner web ; a conspicuous lateral head-stripe 

 originating above eye and passing backward to nape ochraceous or ochraceous- 

 bufT; area on side of head, including lores, suborbital space and auriculars, black 

 or slaty-black connected narrowly on side of neck with a conspicuous pectoral 

 collar of the same shade; chin, throat and remaining underparts tawny (or ochra- 

 ceous-tawny to ochraceous-buff ), paling on sides and flanks where feathers 

 broadly margined with slaty-gray, changing to white on abdomen; under tail- 

 coverts mingled white, slaty and ochraceous ; axillars and under wing-coverts 

 white basally broadly tipped with slaty-gray and under surface of flight-feathers 

 crossed basally by band of white or huffish. Bill brownish black paling basally 

 on mandible ; feet and legs ochre-brown ; irides brown. Adult female: Similar 

 to adult male but paler and duller; upperparts olive-slaty to olive brownish; 

 tawny of underparts much paler and pectoral collar narrower, of the shade of 

 back or a little darker; more extensively white on abdomen: Youny birds: Like 

 adult female but more yellowish ochraceous below ; pectoral band indistinct 

 composed of ochraceous feathers having darker edges ; other feathers of throat 

 and breast more or less tipped with olive dusky. Length of adult 9.50-10.00 

 (241-234") ; wing 4.92 (125) ; tail 3.43 (87) ; bill .83 (21 ) ; tarsus .87 (22). 



Recognition Marks. — Robin size ; blackish collar distinctive ; wings con- 

 spicuously varied by tawny markings; head pattern distinctive — otherwise very 

 Robin-like in bearing and deportment. 



Nesting. — Nest: of sticks, twigs, grasses and rotten wood smothered in 

 moss, a bulky, handsome structure placed in saplings or trees at moderate heights 

 without attempt at concealment. Eggs: usually 3, rarely 4, greenish blue spar- 

 ingly speckled or spotted, rarely blotched with dark brown. .\v. size i.i2x.8o 

 (28.4x20.3). Season: April 20-May 10, June lo-julyi ; two broods. 



General Range. — j\Iountains and forests of western North America, breed- 

 ing from northern California (Humboldt County) to northern Alaska, wintering 

 from Kadiak Island to southern Califurnia and straggling irregularly eastward 

 during migrations. 



Range in Washington. — Resident in coniferous forests thruout the State 

 from sea-level to limit of trees ; retires to valleys and lowlands in winter ; less 

 common east of the main divides (Cascade). 



Authorities. — [Lewis and Clark, Hist. Ex. (1814), Ed. Biddle ; Coues, Vol. 

 II., p. 184J. Tiirdus lurz'ius. Baird, Rep. Pac. R. R. Surv. IX., 1858, pp. 211 

 ("Simiahmoo, W. T."), 220. T. C&S. L'. D'. Kb. Ra. Kk. J. B. E. 



Specimens.— U. of W. P'. Prov. B. E. 



