In the Woods. 95 



The Olive-backed Thrush averages a little smaller than the Hermit 



Thrush. The upper parts are continuous olive, including wings and tail. A 



ring around the eyes is buff and the sides of the face from 



" the bill have a ground of clear bright buff with brownish 



Turdusustuiatusswainsonii or dusky streaks. The under parts are white with a suffu- 



^^''^''' sion of buff, the spots on the throat are similar to those of 



the Hermit Thrush, being arrow shaped at the tips of the feathers. Those 



of the breast are round and ai the extremity of t\\G. feathers. The belly is 



white and the sides grayish olive brown. 



This bird has much the same breeding range as the Hermit but begins 

 to breed rather farther north. It appears in the Middle States much later in 

 the spring and earlier in the fall, and winters in the West Indies, Central and 

 South America. 



Its nest is built in low bushes or small trees, near the ground, and is made 

 of mosses, grass, leaves, strips of bark and fine roots. The eggs are bluish 

 green specked with cinnamon. They are nine tenths of an inch long and a 

 little more than three fifths in their other diameter. 



The Gray-cheeked Thrush is the largest of this group excepting the 



Wood Thrush, about seven inches and a half long. Its prevailing color is 



Grav-cheeked '"'"^^^ olive with a grayish tone including wings and tail. 



Thrush. The tone of the eye ring and the sides of the face is ashy 



Tardus aiicis Baird. gray souietimes approaching dirty white. The belly is 



white and the breast is spotted with half round spots at the edge of the feathers. 



It is a more northern bird than either the Olive-backed or Hermit Thrush, 



its southern breeding point being Labrador on the eastern coast. It arrives 



late in the spring and passes south again in late September and early October. 



It winters in Central America. 



Its nesting is similar to the Olive-backed in low bushes ; the four greenish 

 blue eggs are somewhat larger and spotted with reddish brown. 



Bicknell's Thrush is a geographical race of the Gray-cheeked Thrush. 



which it resembles in general appearance. It has the same plainly colored 



,„ _, . face, but averages more intense in color. It is about the 

 Bicknell s Thrush. , , ^,.'^ , , , ^-, i tit ^u 



Turdus aiici^ bickneiii size of the Olive-backed T brush, a little less than seven 

 (Ridgw.). j^^j^^^ jj^ length. 



