The Relationships of the Wood Thrush (Hylocichla mustelina): Some Indications from the Electrophoresis of Blood Proteins

Abstract

The generic relationships of the Wood Thrush (Hylocichla mustelina) have been called into question by the works of Dilger (1956) and Bourns (1967). The four species of North American woodland thrushes presently referred (32nd Supplement to the A.O.U. Checklist 1973) to the genus Catharus i.e., Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttata); Gray-cheeked Thrush (C. minima); Swainson's Thrush (C. ustulata); and Veery (C. fuscescens) were formerly placed in the genus Hylocichla (A.O.U. Check-list 1957) and were long believed to be the closest relatives of the Wood Thrush.