Tendrils

Winter Resident

Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus). They don’t come to my feeders, but I often see them at the birdbath. While they’re here during the winter, they eat berries. While they’re away during the breeding season, they eat insects and invertebrates. Wondering if they’re finding any to eat now. Though it technically is winter, it sure has been a warm winter.

Brenda Clements Jones

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8 responses to “Winter Resident”

  1. Warm winter? Really? It’s cold for this Floridian. The northern birds that flew south must be like,”what’s going on!?” HaHa

  2. Thank you for sharing this wonderful photo with us! Yesterday I felt lucky to see a Hermit Thrush eating Greenbrier berries. Do you know what other types of berries they enjoy eating?

    • Hi Brigitte!

      Wonderful that you got to see that Hermit Thrush eating some Greenbrier berries. That plant unfortunately is one that many people go after as an unwelcome plant no matter where it is. It certainly does have many benefits though.

      Your question about what other berries Hermit Thrushes eat is a good one, in part bringing attention to other beneficial though looked down upon native plants that we have in the woods! During the winter, in particular, a Hermit Thrush will eat Elderberries, Pokeberries, Serviceberries, Grapes, Mistletoe berries, Poison Ivy berries and I’m sure many others.

      Thanks bunches for reading my posts!
      Bren

      • Thank you for your reply! I will have to keep my eyes open and hope to see a Hermit Thrush visiting some of those other native species.

        • Hi again Brigitte!

          I’ve really enjoyed hearing from you, knowing that there are other people around that enjoy seeing the birds and what they eat (things that nature provides) out there like me!

          I forgot to mention another berry that I know that Hermit Thrushes enjoy eating. A berry that I know about because I’ve seen them eating those berries. It’s a favorite small tree that I have here. A tree that draws many birds – the Smooth Sumac (Rhus glabra). Be watching for it tonight. If I get my act together, there might be a blog post about it!

          Thanks bunches for reading my posts Brigitte.
          Bren

          • Thank you for this. I appreciate the info about Smooth Sumac, and I really enjoyed reading your Sumac post. What a wonderful assortment of birds and such great photographs! Right now, I feel lucky to have Winged Sumac on my property, and I will keep my fingers crossed that Smooth Sumac naturally spread in soon too!

          • Hi Brigitte,

            I have Winged Sumac too, up here on Snow Mountain. I really enjoy it, while the flowers are in bloom, since the bees love it so much. The bushes seem to buzz with all the action.

            I’m so pleased that you are reading my blog posts!
            Bren

  3. Hi Bonnie!

    NO SNOW up here this winter, well, except for a very wet ALMOST dusting that we had on Jan. 14th. Bummer. Snow in winter makes me happy.

    Too warm. Most days are mid 50s or up into the 60s.

    Okay, enough complaining! I’ll survive!

    Thanks bunches for reading my posts <3
    Bren