HERMIT THRUSH

Catharus guttatus faxoni, C. g. auduboni, C. g. guttatus, C. g. faxoni/euborius/munroi, C. g. oromelus/guttatus

Status: Uncommon regular spring migrant east and south, rare west, rare casual north. Uncommon regular fall migrant east and west, rare central. Rare winter visitor southeast and Platte River Valley, rare casual elsewhere.

Documentation: Specimen: faxoni: UNSM ZM6670, 9 Apr 1900 Lancaster Co.

Taxonomy: A total of 12 subspecies are generally recognized, separated into three groups: Western Lowland, including guttatus, nanus, verecundas, vaccinius, slevini, jewetti, and oromelus, Western Mountain, including sequoiensis, polionotus, and auduboni, and Northern, including faxoni (including crymophilus), euborius (including munroi) (Phillips 1991, Dellinger et al 2020). Gill et al (2022) separated crymophilus from faxoni.

There are several Hermit Thrush subspecies that might occur in Nebraska.

Among the medium-sized, rufescent Northern Group, migrants in at least eastern Nebraska are presumably faxoni (formerly pallasii), which breeds across most of the northern United States and Canada west to British Columbia. This subspecies is rare in eastern Colorado and presumably in at least the Nebraska Panhandle; only about 3% of migrant Hermit Thrushes in eastern Colorado are faxoni (N = 6/178; Steven Mlodinow, personal communication). The female specimen cited above (ZM6670) was identified by Oberholser as auduboni (Bruner et al 1904), but its measurements (wing 95, tail 70) do not eliminate the far more likely (on geographic grounds) faxoni. Further, the date of collection, 9 Apr, is about two weeks before auduboni appears in eastern Colorado in spring (Steven Mlodinow data; personal communication). Phillips (1991) did not examine this specimen. As yet, there is no tangible evidence that euborius or munroi have occurred in Nebraska, although they must certainly occur at least as fall migrants and occasional winter visitors; measurements broadly overlap those of faxoni. Euborius breeds from central Alaska south and east to intermountain British Columbia, and munroi breeds south of euborius in the Rocky Mountains of southwest Alberta and northwest Montana. Both subspecies migrate on the Great Plains west to Colorado and east to Wisconsin and Illinois (Phillips 1991), and winter on the southern Great Plains east to North Carolina and northern Florida. Phillips (1991) cited a 29 Jan specimen of euborius from Riley Co, Kansas. Subspecies crymophilus, lumped with faxoni for eBird reporting, occurs in Newfoundland.

Among the larger, pale gray Western Mountains Group, it has been assumed (Sharpe et al 2001) that grayish Hermit Thrushes in western Nebraska are likely eastward stragglers of the Rocky Mountains subspecies auduboni, but accumulating evidence suggests that Hermit Thrushes found at any distance from the Colorado and Wyoming foothills are as likely to be migrants from the Pacific Northwest (Jon King, personal communication), most of which are measurably smaller than auduboni. As yet, there are no records supported by mensural evidence for occurrence of auduboni in Nebraska, although Phillips (1991) cited a specimen from Finney Co, Kansas, and there are numerous reports with photographs from northeastern Colorado (eBird.org, accessed Nov 2023). Steven Mlodinow records (personal communication) show auduboni in eastern Colorado away from the foothills to comprise about 60% of migrant Hermit Thrushes mostly in the periods 21 Apr-17 May and 15 Sep-15 Oct, with only 1-2 in Nov. Nebraska records are of two at Oliver Reservoir, Kimball Co 20 Oct 2022, one photographed, one well-described in Kimball Co 29 Sep 2019, a surprising six, one photographed, in Carter Canyon, Scotts Bluff Co 6 Oct 2020, and one photographed, surprisingly, in northeastern Nebraska 8 May 2018 (Mark Brogie, personal communication), as well as a few spring and fall sight records from western Nebraska (below). Reports in 2024 of auduboni were of two at Oliver Reservoir on both 3 and 9 Oct, and one at Lake McConaughy, Keith Co 25 Sep. Phillips did not examine three specimens assigned to auduboni collected in Nebraska (UNSM ZM6670) and Iowa although the two “probable auduboni” at the University of Iowa were misidentified, as is likely with the Nebraska specimen (see above).

Also, among the Western Mountains Group, the northern California montane race sequoiensis has reportedly been collected in Lane Co, Kansas, as well as in North Dakota and Oklahoma (AOU 1957); these reports, however, were discredited by Phillips (1991). Sequoiensis breeds in northeast California and winters in southeast Arizona; there are no reports of migrants on the Great Plains, and it seems unlikely to occur in Nebraska.

Among the smaller, browner Western Lowlands Group, occurrence of oromelus and guttatus is likely. Oromelus breeds from southern British Columbia to northeast California and northwest Montana and winters in southern New Mexico and southern Texas (Dellinger et al 2020, Phillips 1991). Phillips (1991) included southwest Kansas in its migration corridor. Guttatus breeds from coastal southern Alaska and, inland or away from islands, south to British Columbia, and winters along the Pacific Coast from Oregon south to Baja California Sur and east through Arizona to eastern Texas (Dellinger et al 2020). Phillips identified eight of ten specimens from western Kansas as guttatus (Jon King, personal communication), and stated (1991) that guttatus occurred as a migrant in southwest Kansas, citing a 7 May specimen at University of Kansas. There are 13 specimens of oromelus for Colorado, 10 of which are from the eastern lowlands (Leukering and Mlodinow 2017) as well as a small number of records of the “guttatus group” from extreme northeastern Colorado (eBird.org, accessed Nov 2023). Leukering and Mlodinow (2017) state that “these forms may account for the lion’s share of early-season [Mar-early Apr] Hermit Thrush occurrences in [Colorado]”, especially since conditions in higher elevations are not conducive to arrival before late Apr-early May of auduboni, the breeding subspecies there. Steven Mlodinow data (personal communication) show about 34% of migrant Hermit Thrushes in eastern Colorado are of the “guttatus (Dwarf) Group”; these birds are earlier spring and later fall migrants than auduboni, and there are five winter records. In Nebraska, a single guttatus was found in Keith Co 2 Oct 2020 and two in Scotts Bluff Co 6 Oct 2020, one was banded at Chadron SP, Dawes Co 9 Oct 2020, another was banded there 3 Oct 2022, and one was photographed at Wind Springs Ranch, Sioux Co 18 Oct 2022. Two reports of guttatus in 2024 were of singles at Oliver Reservoir, Keith Co 3 Oct, and at Lake Minatare, Scotts Bluff Co 9 Oct.

Further support for occurrence of the Western Lowlands Group in western Nebraska is indicated by the measurements of two female specimens at UNSM (ZM 6666 and ZM 6667) that were collected in Sowbelly Canyon, Sioux Co 8 Oct 1920; ZM 6666 is assignable to either oromelus or guttatus, but ZM 6667 is small and within the mensural limits of guttatus but not oromelus. Michael Novak, Bird Conservancy of the Rockies, provided photographs and measurements of a hatch year Hermit Thrush banded at Chadron SP, Dawes Co 26 Sep 2013; the measurements clearly eliminate auduboni and are probably safely assignable to either male or female oromelus or male guttatus. A small Hermit Thrush banded at Chadron SP, Dawes Co 30 Sep 2022 was tentatively identified as jewetti based on measurements (wing chord 85 mm) and coloration (Kyleigh Godsey, eBird.org) and raised the possibility that this member of the Western Lowlands Group may also occur in western Nebraska.  Movements of subspecies in the Western Lowlands Group through Nebraska would parallel those of the group of western Nebraska migrants that includes Cassin’s Vireo and Townsend’s Warbler, all of which breed in the same Pacific Northwest region.

Complicating matters are foxing (browning of specimens as they age) of Catharus specimens (Phillips 1991) and a probable zone of intergradation between guttatus and faxoni in the northern Rocky Mountains. Kansas specimens from Manhattan and Kansas City are intermediate, and intergrades are thought to migrate east to the central plains then south (Jon King, personal communication).

Spring: winter <<<>>> May 16, 17, 18 (southeast); Mar 22, 22, 23 <<<>>> Apr 28, 29, 29 (northeast and east central), May 11, 12, 12 <<<>>> May 28, 28, Jun 3 (west and west central)

Later dates in the southeast are 23 May 2020 Lancaster Co, and 25 May 2012 Douglas Co.

A later date in the northeast and east central is 4 May 2024 Knox Co.

Earlier dates northeast and east central are 12 Mar 2011 Buffalo Co, and 20 Mar 2011 Hall Co.

Earlier dates in the west and west central are 25 Mar 2011 Lincoln Co, 10 Apr 2019 Lincoln Co (reported as faxoni), 22 Apr 2024 Dawes Co, 28 Apr 2018 Thomas Co, 1 May 2000 Deuel Co, 2 May 2000 Wind Springs Ranch, Sioux Co (reported as auduboni), 3 May 2022 Dundy Co, 4 May 2020 Scotts Bluff Co, and 6 May 2000 Banner Co (reported as auduboni). These late Apr-early May dates in the west appear to be a mix of westerly faxoni and early auduboni.

Hermit Thrush is an early migrant in the east, arriving in early Apr and departing in early May. Last dates in the northeast are earlier than the last dates in the southeast wintering range, possibly an effect of larger numbers of observers in the southeast detecting lingering birds. Hermit Thrush migrates much later in the west, mostly in May, but is rare; Rosche (1982) observed only one in eight years of field work in the northwest Panhandle. Panhandle reports appear to be of western subspecies auduboni and guttatus; dates for birds reported as auduboni are 21-22 May 2013 (2) Lake McConaughy, Keith Co, and 23 May 2016 Scotts Bluff Co.

There is a report of a singing bird in a thickly wooded tributary canyon of the Niobrara River Valley in southeast Keya Paha Co 1 Jul 2016; the observer was unable to record the song. There is a single record of nesting in the Black Hills of South Dakota in 1966 (Tallman et al 2002).

• High counts: 25 at Wilderness and Pioneers Parks, Lincoln, 20 Apr 2013, 20 at Fontenelle Forest, Sarpy Co 5 Apr 2009, 14 in Elmwood Park, Omaha 15 Apr 2018, 14 at Chalco Hills RA, Sarpy Co 11 Apr 2019, and 14 at Camp Wakonda, Sarpy Co 14 Apr 2019.

Fall: Sep 11, 13, 14 <<<>>> Oct 31, Nov 1, 2 (west and west-central); Sep 28, 29, 29 <<<>>> Oct 29, 30, 31 (east-central and northeast), Sep 26, 26, 28 <<<>>> winter (southeast).

Earlier dates for the west and west central are 29 Aug 2020 Rock Creek SRA, Dundy Co, 30 Aug 2021 Cheyenne Co, 31 Aug 2017 Rock Creek SRA, 6 Sep 2013 Wildcat Hills NC, Scotts Bluff Co, 7 Sep 2013 Wind Springs Ranch, Sioux Co, and 9 Sep 2024 Keith Co.

Later dates for the west and west central are 10 Nov 2023 Carter Canyon, Scotts Bluff Co, 22 Nov 2024 Dawes Co, and 29 Nov 2021 Scotts Bluff Co.

An earlier date for the east-central and northeast is 10 Sep 2002 NNF Bessey, Thomas Co.

An earlier date for the southeast is 11 Sep 2020 Douglas Co.

Migrants arrive mid-Sep in the Panhandle and late Sep in the east; one identified as faxoni was at Lake Ogallala, Keith Co 26 Oct 2000. An auduboni was at Oliver Reservoir, Kimball Co 14 Sep 2021 and another was at Wind Springs Ranch, Sioux Co 22 Oct 2021. At Barr Lake, Colorado, where auduboni might be expected to predominate, Andrews et al (2002) cite 209 fall banding records of Hermit Thrush; 41 adults occurred 19 Sep-18 Oct and 168 immatures 7 Sep-5 Nov. Departure in Nebraska generally is completed by late Oct, although there are later reports (see Winter).

• High counts: 8 in the Panhandle 11 Oct 2000, and 5 at Oliver Reservoir, Kimball Co 2 Oct 2022.

Winter: Reports of over-wintering are few and mostly in the south and east: one wintered in Lancaster Co 1974-75 (Williams 1975), 1-2 were at Branched Oak Lake, Lancaster Co 1-24 Jan 2016, two were at Lake Ogallala 16 Dec 1999-29 Jan 2000, singles wintered 2002-2003, 2005-2006, and 2007-2008 at the same yard in Bellevue, Sarpy Co where they were visiting a heated birdbath through 29 Mar in 2003, 6 Feb in 2006, and 13 Feb in 2008 (Sue Gentes, personal communication), and one wintered at a site with a heated bird-bath at Neale Woods, Douglas Co, at least through 8 Feb 2004.

Away from the southeast, there are about 31 reports Nov-Mar, most in the Platte, North Platte, and Missouri river valleys. The only reports elsewhere are 12 Dec 2023 Chadron SP, Dawes Co, 14 Dec 2019 Harlan Co, 15 Jan 2015 Grove Lake SRA, Antelope Co, two on 13 Feb 2015 Dundy Co, 19 Feb 1992 Thomas Co (Grzybowski 1992), 19 Feb 2017 Frontier Co, and 9 Mar 2004 Wind Springs Ranch, Sioux Co.

Best counts are from CBCs in the east: five at Lincoln, Lancaster Co 18 Dec 2005 and four at DeSoto NWR, Washington Co 20 Dec 2003.

Comments: A purported breeding record at Alda, Hall Co (Cooke 1888) was eventually discounted by Bruner et al (1904), as described by Mollhoff (2022).

Images

Abbreviations

CBC: Christmas Bird Count
NC: Nature Center
NNF: Nebraska National Forest
NWR: National Wildlife Refuge
RA: Recreation Area
SP: State Park
SRA: State Recreation Area
UNSM: University of Nebraska State Museum

Literature Cited

Andrews, R., R. Righter, M. Carter, T. Leukering, and A. Banks. 2002. Birds of Barr Lake and Surrounding Areas 1888 through 1999. Ornithological Monograph No. 1, Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory, Brighton, Colorado, USA.

American Ornithologists’ Union [AOU]. 1957. The AOU Check-list of North American birds, 5th ed. Port City Press, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.

Bruner, L., R.H. Wolcott, and M.H. Swenk. 1904. A preliminary review of the birds of Nebraska, with synopses. Klopp and Bartlett, Omaha, Nebraska, USA.

Cooke, W.W. 1888. Report on Bird Migration in the Mississippi Valley in the years 1884 and 1885. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC.

Dellinger, R., P.B. Wood, P.W. Jones, and T.M. Donovan. 2020. Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (A. F. Poole, Editor). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.herthr.01.

Gill, F., D. Donsker, and P. Rasmussen (Eds). 2022. IOC World Bird List (v 12.2). Doi 10.14344/IOC.ML.12.2.  http://www.worldbirdnames.org/.

Leukering, T., and S.G. Mlodinow. 2017. Selected Bird Subspecies of Interest in Colorado: Part 1. Colorado Birds 51: 154-169.

Grzybowski, J.A. 1992. Southern Great Plains Region. American Birds 46: 283-285.

Mollhoff, W.J. 2022. Nest records of Nebraska birds. Nebraska Ornithologists’ Union Occasional Paper Number 9.

Phillips, A.R. 1991. The known birds of North and Middle America. Part 2. Published by the author, Denver Colorado, USA.

Rosche, R.C. 1982. Birds of northwestern Nebraska and southwestern South Dakota, an annotated checklist. Cottonwood Press, Crawford, Nebraska, USA.

Sharpe, R.S., W.R. Silcock, and J.G. Jorgensen. 2001. The Birds of Nebraska: Their Distribution and Temporal Occurrence. University of Nebraska Press, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA.

Tallman, D.A., Swanson, D.L., and J.S. Palmer. 2002. Birds of South Dakota. Midstates/Quality Quick Print, Aberdeen, South Dakota, USA.

Williams, F. 1975. Southern Great Plains Region. American Birds 29: 707-711.

Recommended Citation

Silcock, W.R., and J.G. Jorgensen. 2024. Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus). In Birds of Nebraska — Online. www.BirdsofNebraska.org

Birds of Nebraska – Online

Updated 14 Dec 2024