Tendrils

Hermit Thrush

After an absence of a couple months, they’re back at my berries and birdbath again. This is a Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus) going after berries of Smooth Sumac, which is a small tree that I really enjoy having in my yard because it attracts such interesting birds.

I’ve tried to figure out how to entice the Hermit Thrush to be a feeder bird but they’ve offered only resistence. The one thing I can depend on is that they LOVE to have a bird bath around, that is not frozen, both for drinking and bathing.

During the summer they mainly eat insects but during the winter they go with what is more available, fruits and berries. Here in my yard they’re provided both the Smooth Sumac berries and also Beautyberries. They also enjoy rummaging through the leaf litter in my yard. Leaf litter seems to be a valuable asset for attracting birds.

Yesterday it was at the Beautyberry bush that I spotted a Hermit Thrush. I was pleased to see it, since I hadn’t seen one since late November. Using my photographs as a guide I can say that I see these birds from early November through late March of each year.

Glad they’re back and I hope they hang around through March!

Brenda Clements Jones

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6 responses to “Hermit Thrush”

  1. When I first arrived in VA in 1998, I had scores of wood thrushes during late spring, summer and fall when they chowed down on the wild berries as well as my blueberries. To hear their lovely song in the woods as I gardened was always a delight. They disappeared years ago, in fact my regular visiting bird population has diminished at least 50% over the last twenty years. It’s distressing.

    • Hi Nancy,

      I share your concern. One thing that people need to remember, that I know you adhere to is plant native native native. I try very hard to keep a positive attitude. Surely we CAN make a difference.

      Thanks bunches for reading my blog dear Nancy!
      Bren

  2. nice eye ring
    plus your write ups are , to me, eloquent. Like the Thrush herself you hit the right notes and points of information while keeping it light.