THE VARIED THRUSH. 



{Hesperocichla naevia.) 



The Varied Thrush is one of the most 

 beautiful members of the family of 

 thrushes. Its range is somewhat limited 

 as it frequents only the coastal regions 

 of the northwestern part of North Amer- 

 ica. In winter, however, it may be found 

 in California and is occasionall}' seen as 

 far south as Lower California. As a 

 straggler, it is sometimes noticed in the 

 New England states. 



Mr. Mitchell says that the Varied 

 Thrush reaches the Columbia river in its 

 southward flight some time in October. 

 He also states that *'at this time they flit 

 through the forests in small flocks, usu- 

 ally frequenting the low trees, on which 

 they perch in perfect silence and are at 

 times very timorous and diflicult to ap- 

 proach, having all the sly sagacity of the 

 robin." In fact this bird, which is often 

 called the Western Robin, is not only 

 much more shy and retiring than our 

 well known eastern friend, but their song 

 is also very different, ''consisting only 

 of five or six notes in a minor key and a 

 scale regularly descending.'' Mr. Town- 

 send speaks of the song as being louder, 

 sharper and quicker than that of the 

 robin and adds that its song just before 

 its northward flight, in the spring, is 

 pleasant. Its song is seldom heard ex- 

 cept from the tree tops, and in summer, 

 as a rule, only from the deeper forests. 



Dr. Suckley describes the Varied 

 Thrush as he studied it in Oregon and 

 Washington. He says : , 'Tn winter it 

 is a shy bird, not generally becoming 

 noticeable in the open districts until after 

 a fall of snow, when many individuals 



may be seen along the sand beaches near 

 salt water. They are at such times tame 

 and abundant. I suppose that they are 

 driven out of the woods during the heavy 

 snows by hunger. It may then frequently 

 be found in company with the robin, with 

 which it has many similar habits. At 

 this time of the year it is a very silent 

 bird, quite tame and will allow near ap- 

 proach. It appears to be fond of flying 

 by short stages in a desultory manner, 

 sometimes alighting on the ground, at 

 other times on fences, bushes or trees." 



Mr. Cooper, speaking of the bird as 

 he found it near San Francisco, says that 

 they begin to appear in October, when 

 ''they are usually timid, but toward 

 spring come more familiarly around 

 houses and utter their shrill, low notes, 

 which seem much more distant than the 

 bird itself really is. If pursued they hide, 

 and sit unmovable among the foliage." 



The bird is also known by several 

 other names, such as the Spotted, Golden, 

 Painted or Columbia Robin or Thrush, 

 and sometimes it is called the Thrush-like 

 Mockingbird. A marked characteristic 

 of the male is the black crescent on the 

 breast. 



Mr. Davie describes the nest as found 

 by Dr. Minor in Alaska : 'Tts base and 

 periphery^ are composed of an elaborate 

 basket-work of slender twigs. Within 

 these is an inner nest consisting of an 

 interweaving of fine dry grasses and 

 long gray lichen." The eggs are said 

 to be a light greenish-blue, slightly 

 sprinkled with spots of a dark umber- 

 brown. 



201 



