HERMIT THRUSH

HERMIT THRUSH(Cattarus guttatus) – (See images below)
DESCRIPTION: The Hermit Thrush  has a grey breast with brown spots. Upper parts are brown and under parts are whitish. The tail is cinnamon. The bill and eyes are black, and there’s a white eye ring. Legs and feet are pinkish grey. Sexes are similar. This bird is around 17 cm (7 inches) long.
VOICE: https://www.xeno-canto.org/species/Catharus-guttatus – Melodious, flute-like crystalline song. Song apparently shares some patterns of human music as per this study.
NAME:  The English name ‘Hermit’ refers to the solitary habits of this species, and ‘Thrush’ would mean ‘to twitter’. The Latin genus name ‘Cattarus’ means ‘pure, clean’. The Latin species name  ‘guttatus’ means ‘ a drop-like spot’, in reference to the breast plumage.
HABITAT: Forests, in addition parks in the winter.
DIET: Forages on the ground for insects. Will scratch the ground with its feet to dislodge insects. Feeds also on berries when available.
NESTING: Usually nests on the ground. Between three and five light blue-green eggs are laid, incubated by the female. Both parents feed the chicks.
DISTRIBUTION: Breeds in the boreal forest of Canada and Alaska, also northeast and western USA. Year-round resident along coast of western USA. Winters to the southeast USA and Mexico.
DISTRIBUTION MAP: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hermit_thrush#/media/File:Catharus_guttatus_map.svg
ON PEI: Breed on Prince Edward Island, common in the spring and summer.
CONSERVATION: Population appears stable and has a large range. Not currently considered at risk.
NOTES: Hunting behavior similar to that of the American Robin – motionless and peering on the ground where a prey is located, then pouncing on it.
The hermit thrush is the state bird of Vermont, USA.
SIMILAR SPECIES: Swainson’s Thrush, Veery, Northern Waterthrush
REFERENCES: https://www.borealbirds.org/bird/hermit-thrush
https://www.mba-aom.ca/jsp/toc.jsp (Maritimes Breeding Bird Atlas)
https://identify.whatbird.com/obj/148/_/Hermit_Thrush.aspx
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hermit_thrush
https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Hermit_Thrush/id
https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/hermit-thrush

Hermit Thrush – Grayton State Park, FL – Mar. 29, 2018 – Roberta Palmer
Hermit thrush, FL, Roberta Palmer