Hermit Thrush vs Varied Thrush

Hermit Thrush

Catharus guttatus

How to recognise a hermit thrush?

General appearance

The hermit thrush is a medium-sized sparrow-like bird, measuring about 6-7 inches in length. Its plumage is mainly brown with a reddish-brown tail, distinct mottled spots on the breast, and a creamy underbelly. The throat area is white with dark spots. It has a pale eye ring and relatively long legs. Its pleasant, flute-like song makes it easier to identify during its singing season.

Male vs female

Males and females of the hermit thrush species are similar in appearance, with almost indistinguishable plumage. Both sexes share the same pattern and coloration, making it challenging to differentiate between them in the wild based solely on visual appearance.

Juvenile

Juvenile hermit thrushes resemble adults but with some differences. They generally have more pronounced streaking or spotting on their underparts, and their overall plumage may appear less crisp than that of mature birds. These birds gradually take on the adult coloration as they mature. During the transition from juvenile to adult, they can be identified by their less defined spots and slightly fluffier appearance.

Size

5.5 - 7.1 in/0.8 - 1.3 oz

Habitat

Primary habitat

The Hermit Thrush primarily resides in conifer or mixed woods, spruce woods, dry pine woods, sphagnum bogs, and forest floors. It can be found in mountains and thickly wooded canyons.

Additional range

The bird shows adaptability by occupying secondary habitats like burnt areas with standing dead trees. Throughout migration and winter periods, it can be found in various types of woodland.

Range Map

What do hermit thrushes like to eat?

Natural diet

The hermit thrush primarily feeds on a wide variety of insects and berries. Its insect diet includes beetles, ants, caterpillars, true bugs, grasshoppers, crickets, spiders, and earthworms, with an occasional small salamander. In winter, it shifts towards consuming more berries, such as elderberries, pokeberries, serviceberries, grapes, and mistletoe berries.

Bird feeders

The hermit thrush is less commonly seen at bird feeders compared to other birds, as it usually forages on the ground for its natural food sources of insects and berries.

What does a hermit thrush sound like?

The hermit thrush's vocalizations consist of a series of clear, musical phrases, each on a distinct pitch. Its song begins with a piping introductory note followed by a reedy tremolo. Its call note is a low tuck. The dynamics of the calls vary, exhibiting flat, rising, and undulating patterns. The different call types sound reminiscent of a flute, a trill, or a whistle.

Call

Audio by Jonathon Jongsma

/ CC BY-SA 3.0

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Varied Thrush

Ixoreus naevius

How to recognise a varied thrush?

General appearance

The Varied Thrush is about the size of a Robin, measuring between 9-10 inches (23-25 cm). Distinctive features include an orange throat and eyebrow, a dark chest band, and extensive orange markings on the wings. The bird has a black, blue, brown, and gray coloration. Lastly, its tail shape can vary between rounded to square-tipped.

Male vs female

The male and female Varied Thrush have slight distinctions. The female is duller than the male in terms of coloration. While both sexes have the same varying palette of black, blue, brown, gray, and orange, the female's upperparts are conspicuously paler in comparison.

Juvenile

Juvenile Varied Thrushes exhibit mottling on their chests, but their wing pattern is identical to that of adults. Despite not having fully adopted their adult colorations, the orange wing markings are already prominent, aiding in their identification in the wild.

Size

7.5 - 10.4 in/2.3 - 3.5 oz

Habitat

Primary habitat

The varied thrush breeds in coniferous forests, typically dense, wet coastal areas with fir, hemlock, and spruce trees.

Additional range

During migration and winter, it favors coniferous woods but is adaptable, occupying undergrowth in other forests, especially near streams.

Range Map

What do varied thrushes like to eat?

Natural diet

The varied thrush primarily feeds on insects and berries. During summer, it consumes a wide variety of insects such as beetles, ants, caterpillars, crickets, and many others. It also includes millipedes, sowbugs, snails, earthworms, spiders, and other invertebrates in its diet. In winter, the diet shifts mostly to berries and wild fruits, supplemented by seeds and acorns.

Bird feeders

The varied thrush is less commonly seen at bird feeders compared to other birds. However, when visiting feeders, it may consume similar items to those in its natural diet, such as seeds and fruits.

What does a varied thrush sound like?

The varied thrush typically communicates with buzz and chirp-like calls, along with trill and whistle sounds. Its song primarily consists of 2 or 3 buzzy whistles, which are drawn out until they naturally fade away, interrupted by short moments of silence in between. The bird's call often has a low 'took' sound, in a pattern that remains flat. Overall, the varied thrush’s vocalizations exhibit a blend of trills, whistles, buzzes, and low, flat calls.

Song

Audio by Paul Marvin

/ CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

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Hermit Thrush

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Varied Thrush

Hermit Thrush

Catharus guttatus

General appearance

The hermit thrush is a medium-sized sparrow-like bird, measuring about 6-7 inches in length. Its plumage is mainly brown with a reddish-brown tail, distinct mottled spots on the breast, and a creamy underbelly. The throat area is white with dark spots. It has a pale eye ring and relatively long legs. Its pleasant, flute-like song makes it easier to identify during its singing season.

Male vs female

Males and females of the hermit thrush species are similar in appearance, with almost indistinguishable plumage. Both sexes share the same pattern and coloration, making it challenging to differentiate between them in the wild based solely on visual appearance.

Juvenile

Juvenile hermit thrushes resemble adults but with some differences. They generally have more pronounced streaking or spotting on their underparts, and their overall plumage may appear less crisp than that of mature birds. These birds gradually take on the adult coloration as they mature. During the transition from juvenile to adult, they can be identified by their less defined spots and slightly fluffier appearance.

Size

5.5 - 7.1 in/0.8 - 1.3 oz

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Varied Thrush

Ixoreus naevius

General appearance

The Varied Thrush is about the size of a Robin, measuring between 9-10 inches (23-25 cm). Distinctive features include an orange throat and eyebrow, a dark chest band, and extensive orange markings on the wings. The bird has a black, blue, brown, and gray coloration. Lastly, its tail shape can vary between rounded to square-tipped.

Male vs female

The male and female Varied Thrush have slight distinctions. The female is duller than the male in terms of coloration. While both sexes have the same varying palette of black, blue, brown, gray, and orange, the female's upperparts are conspicuously paler in comparison.

Juvenile

Juvenile Varied Thrushes exhibit mottling on their chests, but their wing pattern is identical to that of adults. Despite not having fully adopted their adult colorations, the orange wing markings are already prominent, aiding in their identification in the wild.

Size

7.5 - 10.4 in/2.3 - 3.5 oz

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How to tell the Hermit Thrush from the Varied Thrush

Visual differences

The Hermit Thrush is a smaller bird at 6-7 inches with brown plumage, a reddish-brown tail, and mottled breast spots. It has a pale eye ring. In contrast, the Varied Thrush is larger at 9-10 inches, with distinct orange throat, eyebrow, and wing markings, and a dark chest band. Its plumage includes black, blue, brown, and gray tones. The Varied Thrush is more vibrant in color, with a rounded to square-tipped tail, differing from the Hermit Thrush's subtler, more uniform appearance.

Key differences and behavior

The Hermit Thrush and Varied Thrush exhibit notable behavioral differences. Hermit Thrushes, smaller at 6-7 inches, forage by foot quivering and have an insect- and berry-based diet, favoring denser habitats like coniferous forests and wooded canyons. In contrast, Varied Thrushes, akin to robins at 9-10 inches, are territorial around feeders, thrive in wet coastal forests, and similarly consume insects and berries. Both species shift diets seasonally to berries but differ in nesting: Hermit Thrushes build lower nests, while Varied Thrushes use conifers at 5-15 feet. Mating involves both species' males singing for attraction, yet Varied Thrushes also mark territories through song, especially after rain.