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Hermit thrush Facts

Hermit thrush Facts
Hermit thrush is a songbird that belongs to the family of thrushes. There are thirteen subspecies of hermit thrushes that can be found in Canada, Alaska and northeastern and western parts of the USA. Hermit thrush inhabits lowland and mountainous deciduous and coniferous forests. It can be found near the streams and ponds and in the meadows. Number of hermit thrush in the wild is large and stable. These birds are not on the list of endangered species.
Interesting Hermit thrush Facts:
Hermit thrush can reach 5.5 to 7.1 inches in length and 0.8 to 1.3 ounces of weight.
Hermit thrush is covered with brown plumage on the upper side of the body. It has black spots on white chests and prominent red tail. Eyes are encircled with white rings.
Hermit thrush has chunky body and pink legs. It has a wingspan of 9.8 to 11.4 inches.
Hermit thrush is an omnivore (it eats plants and meat). It eats insects (flies, beetles, ants, caterpillars and wasps), small amphibians and reptiles during the spring. Fruit (especially wild berries) are major source of food during the winter.
Hermit thrush collects the food on the ground. It uses the beak to find food located below leaves. It also shakes the grass with its legs to find potential prey hidden inside it.
Hermit thrush migrates toward the south during the autumn to avoid lack of food and freezing temperatures during the winter.
Hermit thrush is best known by beautiful, flute-like songs that it produces. Song starts with long whistle that subsequently changes into series of musical phrases of different pitches. Unlike the songs of other birds, songs of hermit thrush have harmony.
Pair of hermit thrushes exchanges greeting song when they meet near the nest. Female often sings while she rearranges the eggs in the nest.
Main predators of hermit thrushes are cats, foxes, chipmunks, squirrels, skunks, snakes and owls.
Mating season of hermit thrushes takes place during the summer.
Female builds nest in the bush or on the ground. Nest is made of pine needles, mud and wood and it is usually lined with willow catkins. Construction of the nest lasts 7 to 10 days.
In some areas, hermit thrushes are known to build nests on the graves, inside the mine shaft or on the golf terrains.
Female lays 3 to 6 bluish eggs that hatch after 11 to 13 days. Chicks are helpless at birth and they depend on their parents. Male brings food to the nest, while female feeds the chicks.
Young birds usually feed on larvae, moths and spiders, but parents will offer large prey such as salamanders when other food is not available.
Hermit thrush can survive more than 8 years in the wild.


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