Hermit Thrush

Introduction: Thrushes are alert, compact, medium-sized songbirds with straight thin bills and upright posture. In North America they are considered the most melodious of birds, and the Hermit Thrush's pure silvery flute-like notes are said to be the finest in northern woodlands.

What to Look For:

• robin-like bird with brown back, rusty rump & tail

• white breast, heavily spotted

• thin whitish eye ring

• tail-cocking habit - rapid lifting & slow lowering of tail

Where to Look:

• forest floors, especially moist areas

Range & Habitat:

• Summer (breeding) - mixed and coniferous woodlands of southern Alaska & Canada, extreme northeastern and mountainous regions of US

* Winter - woodlands and brushy thickets in the southern half of US, south to Guatemala

Diet:

• insects & other arthropods found on the ground

• supplemented with berries & buds in winter

Lifespan:

•. oldest on record lived 8 years, 8 months

• up to 7 years

(couldn't find an average lifespan - take your pick)

Courtship & Nesting:

• monogamous for the breeding season

• nest a bulky cup of leaves, grasses, moss, hair, lichens, built by the female

• eastern populations nest on the ground, western in low tree branches

• 2-6 pale greenish-blue eggs, incubated by the female for 12 days

• fledging 12 days after hatching

• young cared for by both parents

• 2 broods per year, using the same nest

Did You Know?

• The Hermit Thrush is the only spotted thrush that winters in the US ( Nov.-Mar.)

• Hermit Thrushes are exposed to a wide variety of predators, including weasels, Red Squirrels, skunks, raccoons, jays & crows, snakes, and even black bears.

• Hermit Thrushes experience intense nest parasitism from the Brown-headed Cowbird.

• Hermit Thrushes migrate at night, in groups with other species. They tend to fly at low altitudes, often colliding with buildings and towers.

• The Hermit Thrush gets its name from the Greek katharos "pure", referring to its song, and guttata "spotted" for its typical thrush's spotted breast.

• A group of Hermit Thrushes is called a "flute".

--This material compiled by members of the PBC Education Committee; Beth Bursuck, Dan Chambers, Judi Durr, Jean Murdick, Emily Tyler, Mary Woodrow and Melissa Whitmire


Hermit Thrush photos © 2004 by Melissa Whitmire
Introduction: Thrushes are alert, compact, medium-sized songbirds with straight thin bills and upright posture. In North America they are considered the most melodious of birds, and the Hermit Thrush's pure silvery flute-like notes are said to be the finest in northern woodlands. What to Look For: • robin-like bird with brown back, rusty rump & tail • white breast, heavily spotted • thin whitish eye ring • tail-cocking habit - rapid lifting & slow lowering of tail Where to Look: • forest floors, especially moist areas Range & Habitat: • Summer (breeding) - mixed and coniferous woodlands of southern Alaska & Canada, extreme northeastern and mountainous regions of US * Winter - woodlands and brushy thickets in the southern half of US, south to Guatemala Diet: • insects & other arthropods found on the ground • supplemented with berries & buds in winter Lifespan: •. oldest on record lived 8 years, 8 months • up to 7 years (couldn't find an average lifespan - take your pick) Courtship & Nesting: • monogamous for the breeding season • nest a bulky cup of leaves, grasses, moss, hair, lichens, built by the female • eastern populations nest on the ground, western in low tree branches • 2-6 pale greenish-blue eggs, incubated by the female for 12 days • fledging 12 days after hatching • young cared for by both parents • 2 broods per year, using the same nest Did You Know? • The Hermit Thrush is the only spotted thrush that winters in the US ( Nov.-Mar.) • Hermit Thrushes are exposed to a wide variety of predators, including weasels, Red Squirrels, skunks, raccoons, jays & crows, snakes, and even black bears. • Hermit Thrushes experience intense nest parasitism from the Brown-headed Cowbird. • Hermit Thrushes migrate at night, in groups with other species. They tend to fly at low altitudes, often colliding with buildings and towers. • The Hermit Thrush gets its name from the Greek katharos "pure", referring to its song, and guttata "spotted" for its typical thrush's spotted breast. • A group of Hermit Thrushes is called a "flute". --This material compiled by members of the PBC Education Committee; Beth Bursuck, Dan Chambers, Judi Durr, Jean Murdick, Emily Tyler, Mary Woodrow and Melissa Whitmire