Hermit Thrush Sounds

Overview
ID info
Life History
Maps
Sounds

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Quebec, June 17, 2007Recorded by Matthew D. Medler / Macaulay Library
Song
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British Columbia, June 19, 2020Recorded by Mark Gardiner / Macaulay Library
Song
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Arizona, June 30, 2020Recorded by Rose Ann Rowlett / Macaulay Library
Calls
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West Virginia, November 19, 2000Recorded by Wil Hershberger / Macaulay Library
Calls
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New York, June 13, 2020Recorded by Jay McGowan / Macaulay Library
Calls
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Arizona, March 14, 2010Recorded by Bob McGuire / Macaulay Library
Calls
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New York, June 13, 2020Recorded by Jay McGowan / Macaulay Library
Flight calls
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Alaska, May 12, 2013Recorded by Lucas DeCicco / Macaulay Library
Flight calls
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New York, October 14, 2018Recorded by Brad Walker / Macaulay Library
Alarm calls
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New York, June 13, 2020Recorded by Jay McGowan / Macaulay Library

Sounds provided by Macaulay Library.
Listen to more sounds of this species from the ML archive.

Songs

The Hermit Thrush’s beautiful, haunting song begins with a sustained whistle and ends with softer, echo-like tones, described as oh, holy holy, ah, purity purity eeh, sweetly sweetly. It pauses between each phrase, and the song is about 1.5 seconds long. Hermit Thrushes also deliver an extremely faint “whisper song” in spring.

Calls

The Hermit Thrush's most frequently heard call is a low-pitched tchup or quoit to signal attack or escape and a Cedar Waxwing-like eeee when in danger. Adults may tell their young to stay still with a two-syllable chuck and lisp.

Other Sounds

During territorial displays Hermit Thrushes may snap their bills loudly or make a whistling sound with their wings while in flight. Their feet can produce rattlesnake-like sounds as they scratch in vegetation for food.