Yesterday, I was fortunate to be able to go check out a Varied Thrush at a private residence in Cary North Carolina.
When I arrived at the property, the cheerful sign hung on the mailbox was proof that I was at the right place.

The homeowner Tony, greeted me warmly and said that this bird had been foraging in his backyard for 31 days straight.
As it turns out, he’s is a bird loving photographer too (follow him @thewitt68 ) so it was quite fortunate that this little Thrush landed in his yard!
Tony was such a gracious host and couldn’t have been more accommodating.
He even set up signs and a map of his yard directing people where to find the bird as well as providing a guest book for visitors to sign.
Judging by the number of pages that were filled with signatures, this place has been really hopping throughout the past month.
This little bird has become quite the celebrity around here!

With so many people stopping by to see it, Tony told me that his neighbors have even adjusted their daily yard work schedules as not to disturb the bird in the morning when it is most active.
Truly this Varied Thrush has been embraced by the neighborhood where it’s apparently decided to spend the winter.
What thoughtful people 🙂

Now, why the fuss over a single bird you may ask? Well, this attractive species of Thrush is decidedly a west coast dweller.
They nest in Alaska, western Canada and into the Pacific Northwest.
When autumn arrives, Alaska breeders will typically migrate south to spend the winter in southern British Columbia and even all the way down to California.
The fact that this single Varied Thrush has shown up in a backyard here in central North Carolina is pretty darn cool.

They look sort of like an American Robin but chunkier with a bolder cut to its plumage pattern. The males have slate gray feathers on their backs and a dark band of feathers on it’s orange breast. Females have similar plumage but boast a muted color palette with brownish ear coverts and a dull grey breast band.
Truly a striking looking bird in my book.

Interestingly, although they do forage for worms and grubs in the leaf litter as other species of Thrush are known for, the Varied Thrush’s diet changes during the wintertime to include seeds, berries & acorns.
Watching this bird rooting around for a bite to eat under the homeowners bird feeders, it was the first time I’d even seen a Thrush species snacking on sunflower chips.
Neat to see and learn something new on the same day 🙂

Special thanks to Tony in Cary, North Carolina for his hospitality and to Sheri Thompson too!

Photos by @sally_siko of @birdwatching_nc on the fabulous full frame @canonusa
#5Ds