Hermit Thrush

The hermit thrush (Catharus guttatus) is a medium-sized thrush, distinguished by its brown upperparts and reddish tail. It exhibits a white-dark-white underwing pattern, characteristic of its genus. This bird is more compact and stockier than its North American relatives, with relatively longer wings. Adults have white underparts with dark spots on the breast and grey or brownish flanks, pink legs, and a white eye ring.

Identification Tips

To identify the hermit thrush, look for its size, which ranges from 15 to 18 cm in length, with a wingspan of 25 to 30 cm. It weighs between 18 to 37 grams. The wing chord measures 7.8 to 11.1 cm, the bill is 1.6 to 1.9 cm, and the tarsus is 2.7 to 3.3 cm. Eastern birds tend to be more olive-brown on the upperparts, while western birds are more grey-brown.

Habitat

Hermit thrushes breed in coniferous or mixed woods across Canada, southern Alaska, and the northeastern and western United States. They are adaptable and may winter in parks and wooded suburban neighborhoods.

Distribution

These birds are found across Canada, southern Alaska, and the northeastern and western United States during the breeding season. In winter, they migrate to the southern United States and as far south as Central America. Some remain in northern coastal US states and southern Ontario. They are very rare vagrants to western Europe and northeast Asia.

Behaviour

Hermit thrushes forage on the forest floor, as well as in trees or shrubs. They mainly consume insects and berries. They make a cup nest on the ground or relatively low in a tree.

Song & Calls

The song of the hermit thrush is ethereal and flute-like, with a beginning note followed by several descending musical phrases in a minor key, repeated at different pitches. It often sings from a high open location. The notes of its song are related by harmonic simple integer pitch ratios, similar to human music.

Conservation Status

The hermit thrush is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN, indicating it is not currently at risk of extinction in the wild.

Similar Species

While there are other spotted thrushes, the hermit thrush is the only one normally found in North America during winter, simplifying identification.

Diet and Feeding

The diet of the hermit thrush consists mainly of insects and berries, which they seek out on the forest floor or in foliage.

Breeding

Hermit thrushes breed in forests, constructing a cup-shaped nest either on the ground or at a low elevation in a tree.