Our Bird Profile series highlights a species that is migrating through, breeding, or is a year-round resident of Wisconsin that can be found at Schlitz Audubon or in your backyard.
Name
Hermit Thrush, Catharus guttatus
Basic Description & Appearance
Named for their tendency to be hermit-like and lurk hidden in the understory, Hermit Thrushes spend their time foraging on the forest floor. This songbird is a medium sized thrush, slightly smaller than an American Robin. The species name guttatus means spotted in Latin. The adults are brown on top, with soft white on the underside, dull brown spots on the chest, and a reddish tail—one of the ways to distinguish them from other species in the thrush family. Hermit Thrushes sport pink legs, a white eye ring, and measure between 5-7 inches long with a 9–11-inch wingspan.
Vocalization
During mating season, Hermit Thrushes sing an ethereal song which resembles a flute-like warble. They are usually heard before they are seen, as they dwell out of sight. Their song often has two parts: a single long whistled note, followed by a rapid series of shorter notes appearing in one or two phrases.
The males have several calls, including a sharp, single note that advertises attack or escape, as well as a two-note call signaling the young to freeze, and a nasal-sounding, up-turned vreeh call. This species also has various nesting and winter calls.
Habitat & Nesting
Hermit Thrushes breed throughout southwestern North America, parts of northeastern North America, Baja California Norte in Mexico plus Alaska & Canada, wintering in parts of southern and the western coast of North America, and in Central America. The birds we observe in our area breed in Northern Wisconsin and Canada. We usually only observe them during migration.
During breeding season, they choose forested areas, usually preferring coniferous forests. They will nest closer to the ground, often in areas that are concealed by a structure such as a fern, large plant, or low tree branch. The Hermit Thrush also prefers the exterior edges of forests such as on the border of a meadow or open field. The nest will occasionally be seen in open areas such as beaches, fields, and even in cemeteries and golf courses.
The female builds the nest and lays light blue eggs, incubating them day and night until the fledge date of about 11-13 days. The chicks hatch altricial, which means they are essentially helpless, and are nestlings for about 10-15 days.
Diet & Foraging
This species is a ground and shrub forager, eating mostly insects and other invertebrates during the breeding season. In winter, they supplement their diet with fruits from a variety of herbaceous plants, trees, and shrubs.
Their foraging style resembles the American Robin, in which they hop for a distance, then stop and examine the ground. Most of their food intake comes from picking up food out of the leaf litter, probing into the ground, or gleaning insects from leaves or trunk of trees. They may also use their feet to scare insects out of clumps of dead or regenerating grasses, which is called foot quivering.
When & Where to Find at Schlitz Audubon
This species is found in our forest habitats, peaking during spring migration in April-May and then during fall migration from September-October.
Other Fun Facts
- Hermit Thrushes don’t often visit backyards or use bird feeders.
- These birds are part of a genus that includes other similar looking North American thrushes: Veery, Swainson’s Thrush, Gray-cheeked Thrush.
- Nests of birds east of the Rocky Mountains are typically seen on the ground, while the western birds often nest in shrubs or tree branches.
