WILLOW THRUSH. 756a. Hylocichla fuscescens salicicola. 7½ inches.
Range.—Western United States from British Columbia to southern California. It breeds and is quite abundant in the foothills and canyons of the mountain ranges. It is a western form of the common eastern “Veery,” and its breeding habits are the same, nesting in an old stump on or near the ground, making the nest of grasses and leaves, usually quite bulky. They lay four unspotted bluish green eggs (.90 × .65). Their song is peculiar and not as attractive as others of the Thrush family.
GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSH. 757. Hylocichla alicæ. 7½ inches.
Range.—From British Columbia northward, and winters south to Mexico. Their nests are placed on or near the ground in a stump or tussock, usually in very moist places, and are composed largely of leaves and mosses. Their three or four eggs are a bluish green, spotted and blotched with reddish brown (.88 × .64).
RUSSET-BACKED THRUSH. 758. Hylocichla ustulata. 7½ inches.
Range.—From Alaska to Central America, breeding in the northern part, in Oregon and Alaska. Their nests are made and placed usually the same as the above, the eggs being of the same size, but of a lighter color. The Thrushes feed on small insect life and many of the small fruits and berries.
OLIVED-BACKED THRUSH. 758a. Hylocichla u. swainsoni. 7½ inches.
Range.—North America, breeding on the western coast in Alaska, Oregon, California and Colorado. Their nesting habits, eggs and song are the same as the Russet-backed (not illustrated).
ALASKA HERMIT THRUSH. 759. Hylocichla guttata. 6½ inches.
Range.—Alaska to Mexico, breeding in its extreme northern range. These birds are noted for their sweet and musical song, which may be heard from the swamps and thickets in which they make their home. They nest either on or near the ground, building it of shreds of vines, leaves and grasses. Four bluish green eggs, unmarked, are usually laid (.85 × .65).
AUDUBON HERMIT THRUSH. 759a. Hylocichla g. auduboni. 7½ inches.
Range.—Rocky Mountain region, from British Columbia to Arizona. Tail is much lighter than above, and bird larger. Their habits in home life are the same, this bird having the stronger and sweeter voice of the two (not illustrated).