6.75 inches long. The Hermit Thrush has olive-brown upperparts. The tail and rump are rusty contrast with the rest of the back. There are dark spots on the breast. The underparts are white with brownish or grayish flanks. The face has a thin white eye ring. The bill is thin with a pale base on the lower mandible. The legs are pink.
The Hermit Thrush is an uncommon migrant in the area. It is the earliest migrating Catharus Thrush. It is seen in early March through early May and again in October through mid December.It can occasionally be seen during the winter.
The Hermit Thrush is a quiet bird that spends much of its time in the lower branches of the undergrowth or on the forest floor. It has a habit of quickly cocking its tail up and then slowly lowering it while flicking its wings. Its breeding range is widely distributed over North America.It is the only species of Catharus that winters in North America at which time it switches from a breeding diet of mainly insects to a wintering diet of fruits. The song is a long whistle followed by two or three higher phrases .
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