Bird · GBIF taxon 2490810
Hermit Thrush
Catharus guttatusAlso known as American Hermit Thrush
Hermit Thrushes are famed for an ethereal, flutelike song that echoes through cool coniferous and mixed forests across North America. Easily recognized by a rust-red tail that contrasts with a duller olive-brown back, they frequently flick their tail upward and slowly lower it while foraging. During winter, they expand their diet from forest insects to include berries and wild fruits in dense southern thickets.
SongbirdMigratoryForest
1 / 7—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Beetles
- Caterpillars
- Berries
Predators
- Sharp-shinned Hawk
- Cooper's Hawk
- Domestic Cat
ThreatsWindow collisions, habitat fragmentation, and domestic cats
HabitatsConiferous and mixed forests, wintering in woodlands and thickets
Life span3–10 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyTurdidae
- SpeciesCatharus guttatus
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Listen for Calls: Listen for its ethereal, flutelike song at dawn and dusk during spring and summer.
- Look Down: Watch the leaf litter on forest trails where it actively flips leaves to uncover insects.
- Tail Movements: Key in on its distinctive habit of cocking its reddish tail upward and slowly dropping it.
Forest Companion (c) Anna Hess, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Anna Hess · cc-by
Close Relative (c) Alejandro Bayer Tamayo, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
Close Relative (c) Blake Ross, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Blake Ross · cc-by
Family Member Rhododendrites / CC BY-SA 4.0 · cc-by-sa
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