Thrushes

Hermit Thrush

Catharus guttatus

A shy, spotted thrush with a reddish tail that it slowly raises and lowers — a distinctive habit. Its ethereal, flute-like song is considered one of the most beautiful of any North American bird.

Current regional viewing notes

Forest undergrowth and edges around Hoonah; listen for its beautiful fluty song at dawn and dusk in spruce-hemlock forests.

Dataset note: This legacy field can be specific to Southeast Alaska/Hoonah and is not a complete statewide range statement.

Habitat

Coniferous and mixed forest undergrowth, forest edges, and brushy areas.

Diet

Insects, spiders, earthworms, and berries foraged from the ground and low vegetation.

Natural history note

The Hermit Thrush's song has been analyzed musically and found to follow the pentatonic scale — the same five-note scale used in much of human music worldwide.