Get in Touch with Hermit Thrush
The Hermit Thrush, is correlated with beauty and seclusion. Their song is remarked as one of the most beautiful in nature, yet the species if often found hiding in the woods.
Fun facts about the Hermit Thrush!
- Hermit Thrushes don’t visit feeders often. Their summer diet consists mostly of insects, and their winter diet includes berries.
- Belongs to the thrush family with close relatives: Veery, Swainson’s Thrush, Gray-cheeked Thrush, and Bicknell’s Thrush.
- One of the most widespread migratory birds in North America; populations have stayed stable for 20+ years.
- Migrates early in spring and late in fall, mostly at night, making them vulnerable to glass buildings and wind turbines.
- Nicknamed the “American Nightingale” for their famously beautiful, flute-like song.
- Forages on the ground using “foot quivering,” shaking grass and twigs to scare up insects.
- Vermont’s state bird, celebrated for its song and being among the first birds to return in spring.
-They can live over 10 years in the wild, though most live shorter lives.
-When startled, they flick their wings and slowly raise/lower their rufous tail. a great ID clue.
-Their spotted breast helps them camouflage on the forest floor.
-Hermit Thrushes often sing at dawn and dusk, giving forests a “twilight chorus.”
-The name guttatus (their species name) means “spotted,” describing their chest markings.
