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
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Small hummingbird with short, black bill and completely white underparts; found in savannas, dry forests, and disturbed habitats. Hovers at flowers like other hummingbirds. Males sing a hard, rattling trill from exposed perches beneath forest canopy. Most similar to Plain-bellied and Versicolored Emeralds, but has shorter, entirely black bill; where these species occur together, White-chested may not be safely separable from them if not seen well.
Biak Flycatcher
Myiagra atra
A fairly small bird of wooded areas on the Bay Islands. Low crest is flattened at the front and rounded at the back. Male is glossy black with a purplish-blue iridescence. Female is medium gray above, pale gray below with brownish flight feathers and a darker mask, contrasting with the pale throat. Male similar to male Shining Flycatcher, but Biak is found in forest rather than waterside thickets and is smaller and less glossy. Often found in pairs and female has gray rather than rufous upperparts. Voice, a simple up-and-down whistled song and raspy call.
Magenta-throated Woodstar
Philodice bryantae
Tiny hummingbird with long tail often cocked up. Slow bumblebee-like flight. The only woodstar in its range. Male has purple throat and white collar, otherwise greenish with some orange tones on the flanks. Female more confusing but note small size and flight style; also orange flanks, dark cheek with white spot behind eye, and white patches on sides of rump. Feeds at small flowers at all levels of forest edge, also visits feeders.
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