Hermit Thrush

Catharus guttatus L 6 ¾" (17cm)

Photo by Lang Elliott. Listen to a hermit thrush.

Named for its shy, retiring ways, the hermit thrush can be told from the other brownish thrushes by its gray-brown back and contrasting rufous tail. Hermits are found in mixed woodlands all across North America, and, unlike closely related thrushes, can often be found here, during winter. If you encounter a hermit thrush in the woods, watch for it to fly to a convenient perch from which it will watch you, scolding with a soft tschupp. The full song of the hermit thrush is a beautiful series of flutelike notes repeated on different tones. Because it is soft and given from deep in the woods, the hermit's song is often overlooked.