A Synopsis of the Birds of North America

by John James Audubon

147. 6. Turdus nanus, Aud. Dwarf Thrush.

Plate CCCCXIX. Fig. 1. Male.

Wings with the fourth quill longest, the third and fifth equal and slightly shorter, the second shorter than the sixth. Upper parts light olivaceous-brown, the rump and upper tail-coverts brownish-red, as is the tail; quills dusky brown, margined with light brownish-red; a whitish ring round the eye; lower parts greyish-white, the sides tinged with greyish-brown, the neck and breast tinged with yellowish-red, and marked with broad triangular blackish-brown spots, becoming fainter on the hind part of the breast and sides.

Although this species closely resembles the last in its colours, and the proportions of the quills, it is yet so much inferior in size, and its bill, tarsi, and toes are so much shorter, that it cannot be considered otherwise than as distinct.

Male 6, 9¹/₂.

Columbia River. Accidental in the Middle Atlantic districts. Migratory.

Turdus nanus, Dwarf Thrush, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 201.

FAMILY XIII. MOTACILLINÆ. WAGTAILS.

Bill of moderate length, straight, slender, a little broader than high at the base, compressed toward the end; upper mandible with the dorsal line sloping, a little convex toward the end, the nostrils slight, the tip acute; lower mandible with the angle rather long and narrow, the dorsal line ascending and scarcely convex, the edges somewhat involute, the tip acute. General form slender; head ovato-oblong; neck short. Feet of ordinary length, slender; toes very slender, the lateral equal, the outer adherent at the base, the hind toe rather large; claws rather long, arched, compressed, acute, that of the hind toe generally very long. Plumage soft and blended. Bristles small. Wings long and pointed, one of the minor secondaries often much elongated and tapering. Tongue sagittate, slender, with the tip slit; œsophagus uniform; stomach a very muscular gizzard, roundish, with large tendons, and thin rugous epithelium; intestine of moderate length; cœca very small. Trachea simple, with four pairs of inferior laryngeal muscles.

This family is connected with the Turdinæ by Seiurus, and with the Alandinæ by Anthus, which are the only two American genera.