Hermit Thrush Photo Gallery
Adult
Medium-sized thrush with a round head and a full-bodied look. Brown above, with a distinctly reddish tail. The underparts are pale with spots on the throat and smudged spots on the breast.
© August Davidson-Onsgard / Macaulay LibraryNew York, April 11, 2019Adult
Brown above with a strongly contrasting reddish tail. Note thin white eyering.
© Evan Lipton / Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, April 14, 2015Adult
A medium-sized thrush with a thin white eyering and distinct blackish spots on the upper breast. Flicks wings and raises and slowly lowers tail.
© Evan Lipton / Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, May 07, 2016Not all videos have soundAdult
Medium-sized thrush with a rich brown upper body and smudged spots on the breast, with a reddish tail that sets it apart from similar species. Sometimes cocks its tail up, while flicking its wings.
© Paul Fenwick / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, October 07, 2020Adult
Hops and scrapes in leaf litter while foraging for insects.
© Mark Chavez / Macaulay LibraryColorado, May 02, 2017Adult
Can be conspicuous on migration, even foraging out in the open on the ground. Note the reddish tail contrasting with the brownish upperparts.
© R M / Macaulay LibraryNew York, April 15, 2023Not all videos have soundAdult
Medium-sized thrush with dark brown spots on the breast and paler smudgier spots on the flanks.
© Evan Lipton / Macaulay LibraryRhode Island, December 20, 2016Juvenile
Juveniles are brownish gray above with spotting on the back and wings.
© Giovanni Pari / Macaulay LibraryQuebec, August 23, 2016Adult
Song—often considered one of the world's most beautiful—is rich, haunting, and melodious. Typically starts with a short whistled phrase, followed by a short pause, and then a second phrase, often higher in pitch.
© Daniel Jauvin / Macaulay LibraryQuebec, May 02, 2023Not all videos have soundHabitat
Found in the understory of deciduous and evergreen forests, especially around edges or openings.
© James McCall / Macaulay LibraryColorado, July 04, 2017Adult
Typically found on forest floor, where it hops while foraging in the leaf litter. Note erect posture with head tilted and bill slightly raised.
© Timothy Barksdale / Macaulay LibraryArkansas, February 01, 2005Not all videos have soundCompare with Similar Species
Click on an image to compare
Species in This Family
Thrushes and Allies(Order: Passeriformes, Family: Turdidae)
Don't miss a thing! Join our email list
The Cornell Lab will send you updates about birds,
birding, and opportunities to help bird conservation.