Tag Archives: Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus)

Hermit Thrush About to Migrate

March 15, 2026

One of my winter residents, a Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus), striking a pose for me on a post. You can’t see its tail and back color. A warm reddish-brown set against its olive-brown back. Two different colors.

A color placement that allows for comparing it with two other similar Thrushes, Swainson’s and Gray-cheeked Thrush. The Swainson’s Thrush (Catharus ustulatus) has a uniform back, wings, and tail of warm olive-brown, while the Gray-cheeked Thrush (Catharus minimus) has back, wings, and tail of grayish-olive.

This might be the last picture I’ll get of a Hermit Thrush this season, since they begin their migration in late March through early April. I’ll see you next autumn Hermit!

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A Hermit Thrush In A Dogwood

January 11, 2026

Resting in a Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida), a Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus) that has enjoyed the warmish weather the past few days. But today the temperature fell rather than rising, and there were snow flurries, so it’s looking a bit puffed up against the chill.

They are a bird that forages through leaves around low bushes looking for insects. So remember to leave the leaves! They also enjoy adding berries to their diet. They’ll eat berries that are available during the winter, such as Elderberries, Huckleberries, Holly berries, Multiflora Rose hips, and Poison Ivy berries.

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Singer Of Beautiful Songs

January 6, 2026

A Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus) perching on the garden gate, showing off its russet tail which contrasts to its gray-brown higher feathers. A unique coloring among Thrushes.

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A Hermit Thrush On A Snow Day

February 21, 2025

A winter resident here in Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains, the Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus). As the snow was coming down steadily two days ago it was in a typical stance flipping up its tail and slowly lowering it over and over again.

Though they eat insects during the warmer months, in the winter they stick to a diet of berries.

The Hermit Thrush is a dependable visitor to my birdbath.

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Often At The Birdbath

January 28, 2025

A winter resident here. One that thoroughly enjoys the birdbaths. A Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus). Winter or summer they often find their meals as they forage on the ground. Insects during the summer and berries during the winter. No interest in the seeds I put out.

But wonderful to see them so often at the birdbath.

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One Handsome Creature

Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus), a handsome creature that arrives in autumn to spend the winter in central Virginia, and in much of southern North America. They enjoy berries during their stay here and during the summer they eat insects.

As I look at the maps of their range I see that my location is marked “uncommon”. I’m feeling quite happy that the Hermit Thrushes in my vicinity didn’t get that word, and I’m not going to tell them.

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Feather Maintenance

Two Hermit Thrushes (Catharus guttatus) at the bird bath late this afternoon. I had about ten steps to take to get my camera that was all set up to get pictures, but one of the Thrushes decided to leave before I got a chance to click an image.

The one that was left was fluffing and puffing its feathers after taking a dip in the water on this warm day. Birds take baths to maintain their feathers by removing dirt, bacteria and parasites. And to cool off on hot days.

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