Hermit Thrush - Sierra Club BC
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Hermit Thrush

CAN BE FOUND IN:

Hermit Thrush

Catharus guttatus 

Appearance

Hermit thrushes have short, rounded bodies and their wingspan is an average of 25 centimetres. They have a white ring around their eyes, a white-spotted chest and red tail feathers. 

Range & Habitat

In the winter, hermit thrushes are found in the US, Mexico and southern Canada. In summer, they migrate to Alaska, Canada and the northern US to breed. They mostly live in forests and openings, often near water. 

Reciprocal Relationships

Hermit thrushes are omnivores and help to balance the populations of insects, amphibians, lizards and plants. Their main threat is from predators, including larger birds, snakes and mammals. They are very territorial birds, and the males protect the nesting sites before the females arrive. When hermit thrushes are perching, they flick their tails and wings, and chirp a beautiful and complicated song. 

The female builds a nest from mosses and twigs, and lays from three to six eggs. She may lay up to three different batches of eggs starting in the spring. The eggs hatch after about 12 days and the female takes care of the young while the male brings food to the nest. Hermit thrushes can live for over eight years.  

These birds love to live in the canopy openings in forest understories. It is important to steward these populations by creating dynamic forest landscapes. These birds do not thrive in monocultures! 

status

COSEWIC: Not at Risk 
CDC: Yellow 

more information

If you belong to a First Nation with a story or piece of information not represented here and you would like to share more about this species, please email us at education@sierraclub.bc.ca.   

photo credit

Canva

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