THRUSHES

Hermit Thrush, Catharus guttatus

Family Turdidae (Thrushes)

Size: 7"

Season: Winter

Habitat: Woodlands, brushy areas

The Hermit Thrush is a compact, short-tailed thrush that habitually cocks its tail. It forages on the ground near vegetative cover for insects, worms, and berries, and voices a song of beautiful, flutelike notes. It is reddish to olive-brown above, with a rufous tail. The underparts are white, with dusky flanks and sides and black spotting on the throat and breast. The dark eyes are encircled by complete white eye-rings. In flight, the pale wing lining contrasts with the dark flight feathers. The adult is illustrated.