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Daily Bucket – Varied Thrushes in Snow in my Oregon Yard [1]
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Date: 2023-01-30
Two male Varied Thrushes in my snow-covered backyard in the Willamette Valley in December
Hi everyone! I’ve been fortunate to have enjoyed backyard birds in both the Willamette Valley and in the ponderosa and lodgepole pine woodlands on the east side of the Cascade Mountains in Oregon. Here is another of my past birdy experiences that I am happy to share.
The Daily Bucket is a nature refuge. We amicably discuss animals, weather, climate, soil, plants, waters and note life’s patterns.
We invite you to note what you are seeing around you in your own part of the world, and to share your observations in the comments below.
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The Varied Thrush is a Northwestern bird I yearned to see. This robin relative nests in dense Pacific Northwest conifer forests. In autumn Varied Thrushes fly south to avoid freezing northern winters, and can been seen in parks and gardens hunting berries and seeds.
Varied Thrush range map from the online Audubon Field Guide.
Red = breeding range, Blue = winter range, Purple = year-round www.audubon.org/...
Unlike the cheerful melodies of robins, or the ethereal serenades of other woodland thrushes, Varied Thrushes sing one note buzzy whistles. Check out their songs on the Cornell Lab of Ornithology website: www.allaboutbirds.org/...
Although these thrushes do occur in Oregon year-round, I knew my best bet was seeing them out and about when they were not breeding. In vain I searched winter fields in Oregon in hopes of spotting one of these lovely birds.
But then one December when our family was living in the Willamette Valley a rare Western Oregon snowstorm blanketed the landscape. I spread a wildlife seed and nut mix on the snow in the backyard for the squirrels and ground-feeding birds. And, to my surprise, several Varied Thrushes showed up.
The Varied Thrush’s colors highlighted in the snow
The thrushes hung around the yard for several days, pecking at the wildlife mix when the squirrels would let them at it. Their vibrant plumage glowed in the snow. I was thrilled to finally view and photograph one of my most desired species.
A Varied Thrush hopes the western grey squirrel will let him have a go at the food
The squirrel’s pose indicates: No way, I’m not done yet
The squirrel finally departs, leaving some morsels for the thrush
I have since seen these birds a few times in Central Oregon in autumn, and have heard their strange whistles in spring, but my first sighting, of Varied Thrushes in snow, remains the best.
A male Varied Thrush takes a rest on the backyard fence
This looks like a female or immature Varied Thrush; the colors are more muted than an adult male’s
You just never know what you might see if you keep looking!
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