Learn what a hermit thrush looks like and where to find one. Also find out what the bird's song sounds like and what the bird eats.
What Does a Hermit Thrush Look Like?
According to birding experts Kenn and Kimberly Kaufman, the hermit thrush looks similar in appearance to the Swainson’s thrush, however, the hermit has a more reddish tail. In cold weather, it’s the most common brown thrush for birders to see. Its plumage color varies by region: warmer brown in the East, and grayer in the Rockies.
For identification, look for that reddish brown tail, contrasting with its dull brown back. When a hermit thrush pauses in the open, the bird may raise and lower its tail while flicking its wings out to the side in a nervous-appearing motion.
Diet: What Do Hermit Thrushes Eat?
Hermit thrushes forage on the ground for insects and feed larvae and caterpillars to their young. In winter, these birds feed on a variety of berries.
Nesting Habits
Male hermit thrushes sing in spring to defend their territory. Females build a cup-shaped nest and incubate the eggs. Eastern and northern birds nest on the ground; out west they prefer conifer trees.
Hermit Thrush Song
The rapid, liquid melody of the hermit thrush resonates with our ears because it follows some of our own musical scales, a trait that researchers confirmed after carefully analyzing recordings.
Listen for one long, clear note and then a short, quick warbling phrase.
Bird songs courtesy of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Habitat and Range
The only brown thrush you’re likely to see in the cold months is the hermit thrush. Some stay through the winter all across the southern states, from California to the Carolinas, and a few remain as far north as the Great Lakes region. This widespread thrush species also migrates later in fall and earlier in spring than its relatives.
Look for these birds on or near the ground at the edges of wooded areas, often close to meadows and small ponds, and in parks with shrubby cover.
