Hermit Thrush vs Veery - Birdbuddy WIKI

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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Veery

Catharus fuscescens

Also known as: Wilson's Thrush, Tawny Thrush

How to recognise a veery?

General appearance

The veery (Catharus fuscescens) is a medium-sized thrush with warm, cinnamon-brown upperparts and a subtly spotted pale tawny breast. It has a white underbelly and distinct buffy eye-ring. Its song is a spiraling, fluty series of notes, distinctive during its breeding season.

Male vs female

The veery shows minimal sexual dimorphism, meaning males and females have very similar appearances. Both sexes share the same coloration and size, usually around 16-18 cm long with a wingspan of about 28 cm. Behavioral cues and song patterns, notable in males, are often used for differentiation.

Juvenile

Juvenile veeries resemble adults but typically exhibit more pronounced spotting on the chest. Their plumage is generally duller, aiding in camouflage. As they mature, they attain smoother, more uniform coloration. They take up the adult's distinctive appearance as they prepare for migration and the upcoming breeding seasons.

Size

6.7 - 7.1 in/0.9 - 1.4 oz

Habitat

Primary habitat

The veery primarily inhabits damp deciduous woods with dense understory and leafy low growth near water. It avoids areas with little understory, favoring denser sections of the forest along streams or clearings.

Additional range

Additional habitats include mixed or coniferous woods and open plains in the northern Great Plains. During migration, it prefers deciduous woods. In winter, the veery is found in the undergrowth of lowland tropical forests.

Range Map

What do veeries like to eat?

Natural diet

The veery primarily consumes insects and berries. During the breeding season, its diet mainly includes insects such as beetles, ants, small wasps, caterpillars, crickets, and also spiders, centipedes, snails. Occasionally, it might feed on small frogs or salamanders. In late summer and fall, berries and small fruit become the dominant part of its diet. The veery's diet during winter is not well documented.

Bird feeders

Veeries are not commonly known for visiting bird feeders, as they primarily forage for food in their natural habitat, favoring insects and fruits over typical feeder offerings.

What does a veery sound like?

The veery's vocalizations display a unique richness, often described as a downward spiral with an ethereal quality. Its song unfolds in a delicate descending swirl, creating a mesmerizing auditory experience. In addition to its song, the veery typically emits a characteristic call note, which can be represented as a gradually lowering 'whew'. This call note further adds to its mysterious and captivating aura. These innately soothing and complex songs and calls distinguish the veery, making its vocalizations remarkably pleasant and instantly recognizable.

Call

Audio by Jonathon Jongsma

/ CC BY-SA 3.0

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Hermit Thrush

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Veery

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

There's more to learn about Hermit Thrush

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Veery

Catharus fuscescens

Also known as: Wilson's Thrush, Tawny Thrush

General appearance

The veery (Catharus fuscescens) is a medium-sized thrush with warm, cinnamon-brown upperparts and a subtly spotted pale tawny breast. It has a white underbelly and distinct buffy eye-ring. Its song is a spiraling, fluty series of notes, distinctive during its breeding season.

Male vs female

The veery shows minimal sexual dimorphism, meaning males and females have very similar appearances. Both sexes share the same coloration and size, usually around 16-18 cm long with a wingspan of about 28 cm. Behavioral cues and song patterns, notable in males, are often used for differentiation.

Juvenile

Juvenile veeries resemble adults but typically exhibit more pronounced spotting on the chest. Their plumage is generally duller, aiding in camouflage. As they mature, they attain smoother, more uniform coloration. They take up the adult's distinctive appearance as they prepare for migration and the upcoming breeding seasons.

Size

6.7 - 7.1 in/0.9 - 1.4 oz

There's more to learn about Veery

View full details

How to tell the Hermit Thrush from the Veery

Visual differences

The Hermit Thrush and Veery differ visually as follows: The Hermit Thrush has a reddish-brown tail, distinct mottled spots on its creamy underbelly, and a pale eye ring. It has a brownish upper body and is 6-7 inches long. In contrast, the Veery showcases warm, cinnamon-brown upperparts, a subtly spotted pale tawny breast, and a buffy eye ring. It measures approximately 6.5-7 inches long. Both species have a white underbelly and similar size, with the Hermit Thrush showing more distinctive breast markings compared to the Veery's subtle spotting.

Key differences and behavior

Hermit Thrush and Veery, both medium-sized thrushes, exhibit distinct behavioral differences. Hermit Thrushes employ "foot quivering" to forage insects and are primarily ground feeders, favoring coniferous and mixed forests. In contrast, the Veery, often found in damp deciduous woods, relies on vocal communication during nocturnal migrations and courtship, including duets between males and females. Both species build low cup-shaped nests, but Hermit Thrushes favor thick undergrowth while Veerys prefer near-water locations. While their diets overlap, Hermit Thrushes consume small salamanders more frequently, while Veerys occasionally eat small frogs. Hermit Thrushes sing prominently at dawn and dusk, while Veery songs feature a spiraling tune. These behavioral traits help distinguish them in the field beyond visual cues.