Hermit Thrush

Catharus guttatus

✨ Shiny — winter rarity
Winter only — roughly November through March✨ Shiny — winter rarity

The take

The quiet winter thrush of the understory, raising and slowly lowering its rusty tail.

How to ID it

  • Rich brown above with a contrasting warm reddish tail
  • Pale underparts with smudged dark spots on the breast and a thin eyering
  • Cocks its tail up and lowers it slowly while flicking its wings

Field marks at a glance

Size
medium
Head
plain rich brown with thin pale eyering
Call
soft chup

Where & when

Winter only — roughly November through March

Learn more

Sources