Hermit Thrush
Catharus guttatus
Medium brown above with contrasting reddish tail. Dark spots on breast do not continue all the way down belly like Wood Thrush. Found in wooded areas; often hops on the ground or skulks in dense patches of shrubbery. Winters further north than other thrushes; many stay in the U.S. Listen for its beautiful song that is higher pitched than other thrushes with a steady introductory note; also gives low "chup" call note.
Identification
This species measures 15 to 18 cm (5.9 to 7.1 in) in length, spans 25 to 30 cm (9.8 to 11.8 in) across the wings and weighs 18 to 37 g (0.63 to 1.31 oz). Among standard measurements, the wing chord is 7.8 to 11.1 cm (3.1 to 4.4 in), the bill is 1.6 to 1.9 cm (0.63 to 0.75 in) and the tarsus is 2.7 to 3.3 cm (1.1 to 1.3 in). It is more compact and stockier than other North American Catharus thrushes, with relatively longer wings. The hermit thrush has the white-dark-white underwing pattern characteristic of Catharus thrushes. Adults are mainly brown on the upperparts, with reddish tails. The underparts are white with dark spots on the breast and grey or brownish flanks. They have pink legs and a white eye ring. Birds in the east are more olive-brown on the upperparts; western birds are more grey-brown.[citation needed]
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Catharus guttatus
- Authority
- (Pallas, 1811)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Turdidae
- Genus
- Catharus
Range and habitat
- Breeding range
- NA : widespread
- Non-breeding range
- to w, s USA, Mexico and Guatemala
- Migration
- Complete migrants
Behavior
Hermit thrushes breed in coniferous or mixed woods across Canada, southern Alaska, and the northeastern and western United States. They make a cup nest on the ground or relatively low in a tree.<p>While most hermit thrushes migrate to wintering grounds in the southern United States and south to Central America, some remain in northern coastal US states and southern Ontario. Identification of spotted thrushes is simplified by the fact that hermit thrush is the only spotted thrush normally found in North America during winter. They usually breed in forests, but will sometimes winter in parks and wooded suburban neighborhoods.<p>They are very rare vagrants to western Europe and northeast Asia.<p>They forage on the forest floor, also in trees or shrubs, mainly eating insects and berries.
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Buff-shouldered Widowbird
Euplectes psammacromius
Breeding males are mostly black with a long tail. There is a large yellow-and-buff patch on the shoulder. Females and non-breeding males are streaky and brown, though males retain their colorful shoulder. Found locally in montane marsh, heath, and grassland. Vocalizations include low rasps and twittering and sizzling calls. Male separated from Marsh Widowbird by its more extensive buff shoulder patch. Female can be confused with several other species, but is usually identified by association with buff-shouldered males.
Striped Wren-Babbler
Kenopia striata
Brown-and-white terrestrial babbler that scuttles around in the leaf litter like a rodent. Note lightly speckled black crown, white face and underparts, and rusty-orange stain on the forehead. Favors wetter forests, ranging from lowlands up into submontane areas. Gives short haunting whistles, either singly or in series.
Short-bearded Honeyeater
Melionyx nouhuysi
A long, slender honeyeater of subalpine forest and shrubland in western New Guinea. All sooty gray-black plumage with a long tail and a fairly long, curved bill, 2 white tufts emanating from the base of the bill, and a yellow-orange wattle at the back of the eye. Sometimes some white scaling on the belly. Often seen perching on top of bushes. Similar to Sooty Melidectes, but Short-bearded Melidectes is larger and has a white beard. Gives a long, dry chatter.
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