Hermit Thrush

This Hermit Thrush is the first one I have seen in our Aldea backyard in two years of living here. I had been hearing a new bird in the yard and adjacent areas in the last week or so and was curious what it could be. I think this may have been it based on studying its calls using the iBird Pro app.

I made the identification as the Hermit Thrush as it has smudged spots on its breast and its back and tail areas are a muted reddish-orange, along with having a rich brown head and upper back. The distinct markings set the Hermit Thrush apart from similar species such as the Swainson’s Thrush, which we can also have in Aldea during migratory periods of the year. I have not seen a Swainson’s in Aldea yet.

The Hermit Thrushes eyes, with a pale eye ring, are almost piercing as they stare right into your soul it seems. I tend to have a soft spot for these shy, sweet birds as they mostly show up alone (and lonely!) as they did in our San Francisco backyard. Upon further research, however, there are estimated to be over 56 million of these thrushes globally. So, not so lonely. They are very inconspicuous and show up at odd times when the yard is calm and lacking any other birds or chatter has been my observation. 

The seasonal ranges for the Hermit Thrush all intersect in this part of New Mexico so it could be here almost anytime of the year. Woodlands and forests are a favorite habitat during migration so this one could have been traveling on through to prime winter habit in the southern part of New Mexico and further south to Mexico and below the equator.

Hermit Thrushes scurry and forage on the ground through leaf litter spearing insects with their bills. So I was not surprised to see it this one on the ground near a shallow water source in our yard.

A group of thrushes are known as a “hermitage” or “mutation” of thrushes.

Clink on photos to enlarge.