Life and Wildlife along the Little Buffalo River

This week a good bunch of Hermit Thrushes have come through the area between Murray Road and the Little Buffalo River. Saw them last November also and I always see a good bunch migrating to the north in April. They live up to their names — because I only see one at a time; unlike Wood Thrushes, which seem to migrate in groups. Taken with my Canon 7D and a Canon 400 f/4 DO IS lens at f/4 on a very blustery day. These birds do winter in Arkansas during warmer winters.

They are unassuming birds with a lovely, melancholy song, the Hermit Thrush lurks in the understories of far northern forests in summer and is a frequent winter companion across much of the country. It forages on the forest floor by rummaging through leaf litter or seizing insects with its bill. The Hermit Thrush has a rich brown upper body and smudged spots on the breast, with a reddish tail that sets it apart from similar species in its genus.

• Size & Shape

  Hermit Thrushes have a chunky shape similar to an American Robin, but smaller. They stand upright, often with the slender, straight bill slightly raised. Like other thrushes, the head is round and the tail fairly long.

• Color Pattern

  The Hermit Thrush is rich brown on the head and back, with a distinctly warm, reddish tail. The underparts are pale with distinct spots on the throat and smudged spots on the breast. With a close look you may see a thin pale eyering (not a bold one).

• Behavior

  Hermit Thrushes hop and scrape in leaf litter while foraging. They perch low to the ground on fallen logs and shrubs, often wandering into open areas such as forest clearings or trails. Sometimes a Hermit Thrush will cock its tail and bob it slowly, while flicking its wings.

• Habitat

  Look for Hermit Thrushes in forest understories, especially around edges or openings.

  

  October Hermit Thrush