Tag: Hermit Thrush

One Of Many

A favorite bird. Technically one of many favorite birds. There are too many to narrow it down to one favorite! This is a Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus). Four days ago. It was in my yard getting ready to splash around in the bird bath. The Hermit Thrush is a bird that I only see during the winter months.

Every few days one will show up for a dip in the bird bath. Their diet while they are here is fruits and berries which are found here in the woods. They seem to have no interest in the feeder, though I’ve been putting out raisins.

This very same day, four days ago, but several years before, with several inches of snow on the ground I was fortunate to capture 6 Hermit Thrushes in the bird bath, doing what they need to do, taking care of their feathers, cleaning them.

Birds with a beautiful mesmerizing song. Such a special treat, to have them visit each winter!

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One Of Many

The birds here have not gotten a lot of attention during the past month. The feeder looked mighty lonely this morning. I set off to change the situation, very carefully going out to the feeder with my new knee. Hulled black oil sunflower seeds, dried mealworms, and raisins. The birds heard me call as I was filling the feeder and by the time I carefully got back inside they were busy getting their fill.

Chickadees, Tufted Titmice, Cardinals, White-breasted Nuthatches, Juncos, White-throated Sparrows, Song Sparrows. Maybe others? All delighted with a new supply of yummies.

Just one that I know of, that as always, ignores the feeder but did come to the bird bath. A place they love to visit. Just one this morning, a Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus).

A bird that gives me pleasure to have come visit during the winter months.

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Snow Early Morning Into The Night

This morning when I woke up, there was about an inch of snow on the ground. It was not snowing then, but it started up again after breakfast and has continued through the day, and is snowing now as I write this at 9 in the evening.

The bird feeder got refilled after breakfast too, since the seeds were hidden by the layer of snow, which the birds really appreciated, coming as I called to them.

One bird that doesn’t come to the feeder but loves the birdbath showed up this morning too, a Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus).

Instead of seeds, the Hermit Thrush much prefers berries such as the berries of Smooth Sumac (Rhus glabra).

I’m quite pleased that the Hermit Thrush is a bird that is here sometimes in the summer too. Though I most often see them in winter. Either winter or summer, I enjoy seeing them at the birdbath.

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Beautiful Song

One showed up this morning. The first day of 2024. I always anticipate something special showing up on important days. This was that special something, a Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus). Not arriving for the seeds at the feeder, they’re not interested in that, but arriving to get a splash in the birdbath.

And oh the beautiful music they make. Mnemonics, basically means us humans putting words to the songs of birds to assist our memory. To help tell one bird song from another. In this case the Hermit Thrush is reportedly saying, “veer-veer-veer-veer; Why don’tcha come to me?; Here I am right near you”. A lot to remember but if you can get it into your brain, it’s going to help. A lovely and enchanting song.

Glad I was paying attention this morning to see its visit. Otherwise the day would have gone by with nothing special to note.

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An Occasional Visitor

This morning there was a visitor at the birdbath. That’s generally where I see the Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus).

Most often I see one at the birdbath, but on occasion I’ll see one at the Smooth Sumac (Rhus glabra) or Beautyberry bushes (Callicarpa) eating the berries. Mostly it is just one, not two or three. Just one.

But once in a while, not often, several will show up in the birdbath. What a surprise when that happens. And if I’m really lucky, I’ll be able to get a picture of six of them at the birdbath. Well here I was almost lucky. Five plus a sixth that is almost out of the image.

Here’s to seeing more of the Hermit Thrush in 2024!

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Winter Resident

Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus). They don’t come to my feeders, but I often see them at the birdbath. While they’re here during the winter, they eat berries. While they’re away during the breeding season, they eat insects and invertebrates. Wondering if they’re finding any to eat now. Though it technically is winter, it sure has been a warm winter.

An Afternoon Hello

A Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus) stopped by this afternoon to say hello, as it was hunting for a dinner of berries.

The second portion of it’s scientific name, gusttatus, is Latin for spotted. It’s one of several that are called the spotted thrushes. During the winter, identification becomes easy since this is the only spotted thrush normally found in North America in the non-breeding season.

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