Hermit thrush facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hermit thrush |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Catharus
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| Species: |
guttatus
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| Synonyms | |
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Hylocichla guttata |
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The hermit thrush (Catharus guttatus) is a small to medium-sized bird. It lives in North America. This bird is part of the thrush family. It is famous for its beautiful song. The hermit thrush is a migratory bird. This means it travels far between its summer and winter homes. Its scientific name, guttatus, is Latin for "spotted". This describes the spots on its chest.
Contents
What Does a Hermit Thrush Look Like?
A hermit thrush is about 15 to 18 cm (5.9 to 7.1 in) long. Its wings can spread up to 25 to 30 cm (9.8 to 11.8 in) wide. It weighs between 18 to 37 g (0.63 to 1.31 oz). This bird is a bit stockier than other thrushes in North America. It has longer wings compared to its body size.
Its upper body is mostly brown. Its tail feathers are reddish. The underside of the bird is white. It has dark spots on its chest. Its sides are grey or brownish. Hermit thrushes have pink legs. They also have a white ring around their eyes. Birds living in the eastern parts of North America are more olive-brown. Those in the west are more grey-brown.
Where Do Hermit Thrushes Live and What Do They Do?
Hermit thrushes build their nests in coniferous or mixed forests. They live across Canada, southern Alaska, and parts of the United States. They make a cup-shaped nest. These nests are usually on the ground or low in a tree.
Most hermit thrushes fly south for winter. They go to the southern United States or even Central America. Some stay in northern coastal US states. A few also remain in southern Ontario, Canada. During breeding season, they prefer forests. In winter, they might live in parks or wooded areas near towns.
These birds look for food on the forest floor. They also find food in trees or bushes. Their main diet includes insects and berries.
The Hermit Thrush's Song
The song of the hermit thrush is very special. Many people describe it as one of the most beautiful sounds in nature. It sounds like a flute. The song starts with one note. Then, it has several musical parts that go down in pitch. These parts are repeated at different pitches. The bird often sings from a high spot where it can be heard well. Scientists have studied its song. They found that the notes are related in a way similar to human music.
Hermit Thrushes in Culture
The hermit thrush is the state bird of Vermont.
This bird has appeared in many famous works. The American poet Walt Whitman wrote about the hermit thrush. He saw it as a symbol of the American spirit. This was in his poem "When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom'd". This poem is about Abraham Lincoln. Another American poet, Amy Clampitt, wrote a poem called "A Hermit Thrush." The bird also appears in a famous poem by T. S. Eliot, called The Waste Land.
Some music bands have also used the bird's name. The Canadian indie-rock band Thrush Hermit got their name by reversing the bird's name. There are also American bands called Hermit Thrushes and Hermit Thrush.
Images for kids
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An adult hermit thrush in New York City, showing its reddish tail.
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See also
In Spanish: Zorzal ermitaño para niños
