hermit thrush (Catharus guttatus)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CONFIRMATION STATUS: Confirmed.

 

IDENTIFICATION:

• Length: 6 inches

• Eastern United States have olive-brown upperparts-gray-brown in          western birds

• White eye ring

• Dark spots on breast

• Underparts white with brownish to grayish flanks

• Pink legs

• Thin bill with pale base to lower mandible

• Sexes similar

• Often forages on forest floor

• Distinctive song

• Only brown-backed thrush to regularly winter in the United States

• Migrates earlier in Spring and later in Fall than similar-looking thrushes

Similar species:

The hermit thrush resides in forests where it is more often heard than
seen. It most similar to other thrushes but can be told from them by its
rusty rump and tail contrasting with the duller back and wings. Gray-
cheeked and Bicknell's thrushes lack white eye rings and have gray
cheeks. Veeries have less spotting on the breast. Swainson's thrushes
have buffy spectacles. Wood thrushes have larger, and more extensive
spotting on the underparts. In the eastern United States, fox sparrows
are somewhat similar but have conical bills and streaked backs.

 

LIFE HISTORY

Migration Status: Short distance migrant
Breeding Habitat: Woodland
Nest Location: Ground-low nesting
Nest Type: Open-cup
Clutch Size: 3-5
Length of Incubation: 12-13 days
Days to Fledge: 12
Number of Broods: 2, 3? in south
Diet: Mostly insects; lesser quantities of fruit

 

SKY MEADOWS DISTRIBUTION/SEASONAL OCCURRENCE

 

Relative abundance and seasonal occurrence are indicated in red below.

 

Relative abundance
     C - Common: Likely to be present in good numbers in appropriate habitat and season.
     U - Uncommon: May be present in appropriate habitat and season, often in low
            numbers.
     O - Occassional: Found in appropriate habitat perhaps only a few times per season,
            sometimes low numbers.
     R - Rare: May not be recorded every year.
     Acc - Accidental: Recorded once or twice, may not be expected again for a long time.

 

Seasonal Occurrence
      Sp - Spring: March, April, May U
      Su - Summer: June, July, August
      Fall: September, October, November U

      Winter: December, January, February U

 

 

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