THRUSHES 
329 
Grive solitaire des sierras) Hylocichla guttata sequoiensis is the bird of southern interior 
British Columbia. It is as large as the eastern bird, but slightly more olive above and 
greyer below with less ochraceous suggestion on flanks. West of the Coast Range occurs 
the Dwarf Hermit Thrush (la Grive solitaire name) Hylocichla guttata nanus, which is 
decidedly smaller and redder. The Alaska Hermit Thrush (la Grive solitaire de I’Alaska) 
Hylocichla guttata guttata , the type form — for this is one of the few species known first to 
science from the west — is a subspecies of the Alaskan coast occurring in western British 
Columbia on migration. It is slightly more olivaceous than the Sierra Thrush and as 
small as the Dwarf. Audubon’s Hermit Thrush has been accredited to southern interior 
British Columbia, but its occurrence there has not been verified and is almost certainly an 
error. 
The Hermit Thrush is most notable for its song. Some authorities 
of world-wide experience have even said it has the purest and most perfect 
song of any bird. However true that may be, and however many favourite 
songsters other parts of the world may produce, this species has a purity 
and richness of tone, and a perfection of execution that are equalled by few 
other species. 
758. Olive-backed Thrush, swainson’s thrush, la grive a dos olive. Hy- 
locichla ustulata. L,7T7. Plate LVII B. Even tawny olive over all back; below, white, 
with breast heavily spotted with brown. 
Distinctions. Separated from Wilson’s Thrush by the heavy, instead of very light, 
breast spotting, and more olive cast to back; from the Hermit Thrush, by the tail being 
evenly coloured like the back instead of distinctly redder. Most like the Grey-cheeked 
Thrush, from which it is best separated by the distinctly tawny or ochraceous cast to the 
cheeks, even to showing a distinct eye-ring, and the similar tone to the breast spotting and 
flanks. 
Field Marks. A thrush with tail same colour as the back, breast heavily spotted, and 
cheeks tawny or ochraceous instead of greyish. 
Nesting. In bushes or small trees, in nest of mosses, coarse grasses, leaves, and bark, 
lined with rootlets and grass. 
Distribution. North and South America. In Canada, across the Dominion, north 
through the northern spruce belt, but not as far north as the next species. 
SUBSPECIES. Unusually enough this species was first described from the west 
coast, and the type race is the Russet-backed Thrush (la Grive & dos roux) Hylocichla 
ustulata ustulata, of the region west of the Cascades and the Coast Range. As its name 
implies, it is ruddier, less olive, the throat, is more strongly suffused with ochre, and the 
spotting is not so [strong as in [the Eastern Olive-backed Thrush (la Grive 5, dos olive de 
1’Est) Hylocichla ustulata swainsoni that occupies the range eastward . 
The next most common thrush to Wilson’s; on the coast the prevailing 
one at low altitudes, but elsewhere summering more northerly or at higher 
altitudes. It has a rich, full song only slightly inferior to that of the 
Hermit Thrush. 
757. Grey-cheeked Thrush, la grive a joues grises. Hylocichla minima. 
L, 7-58. Plate LVII B. Even, greyish olive over all back; below, white, with breast 
heavily spotted with brown. 
Distinctions. Separated from Wilson’s Thrush by the heavy instead of very light 
breast spotting and more olive cast to back; from the Hermit Thrush by the tail being 
evenly coloured with the back instead of distinctly redder. Most like the Olive-backed 
Thrush, from which it is best separated by the greyer cast to the cheeks in which there 
is little, if any, tawny, or suggestion of eye-ring, and a greyer tone to the breast spotting 
and flanks. 
Field Marks. A thrush with tail same colour as back, breast heavily spotted and 
cheeks greyish. 
Nesting. In low bushes or on the ground; nest bulky, compact, composed largely 
of mosses. 
DistribiUion. Northern North America. In Canada, west to the mountains, north 
to the tree limits, rare on the prairies, a more northern species than the previous one. 
