Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus) is in the Thrushes family (Turdidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 48,228 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in April.
Seasonal pattern in the national data: winter visitor. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.
When to photograph Hermit Thrush: observations by month (U.S.)
About Hermit Thrush
The hermit thrush (Catharus guttatus) is a medium-sized North American thrush. It is not very closely related to the other North American migrant species of Catharus, but rather to the Mexican russet nightingale-thrush.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Hermit Thrush by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 12,542 | October | Oct–Mar |
| Texas | 3,852 | January | Oct–Apr |
| New York | 3,251 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Virginia | 2,326 | January | Oct–Apr |
| Maryland | 1,970 | November | Oct–Apr |
| North Carolina | 1,797 | January | Nov–Apr |
| Illinois | 1,635 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Arizona | 1,345 | January | Dec–Nov |
| Massachusetts | 1,312 | April | Apr–May |
| Pennsylvania | 1,213 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Vermont | 1,133 | April | Apr–Jul |
| Ohio | 1,056 | April | Apr–Apr |
| South Carolina | 1,015 | March | Nov–Apr |
| Tennessee | 1,005 | January | Nov–Mar |
| Oregon | 934 | December | Sep–Apr |
| New Jersey | 914 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Florida | 894 | March | Nov–Mar |
| Maine | 886 | July | Apr–Oct |
| Georgia | 868 | January | Nov–Apr |
| Michigan | 778 | April | Apr–May |
| Washington | 696 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Minnesota | 656 | April | Apr–Apr |
| New Mexico | 601 | May | Apr–Jul |
| Wisconsin | 576 | April | Apr–Apr |
| New Hampshire | 528 | April | Apr–Aug |
| Alaska | 468 | May | May–Aug |
| Connecticut | 420 | October | Oct–Nov |
| Louisiana | 402 | November | Nov–Apr |
| Alabama | 388 | November | Nov–Mar |
| Colorado | 329 | October | Apr–Oct |
| Utah | 247 | May | May–Oct |
| Missouri | 229 | April | Mar–Apr |
| Nevada | 216 | July | Jun–Aug |
| Indiana | 199 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Delaware | 184 | January | Oct–Apr |
| District of Columbia | 160 | April | Mar–Apr |
| Mississippi | 159 | January | Nov–Mar |
| Kentucky | 156 | January | Oct–Apr |
| West Virginia | 147 | April | Mar–Jul |
| Arkansas | 138 | February | Nov–Apr |
| Idaho | 128 | May | May–May |
| Rhode Island | 93 | October | Oct–May |
| Oklahoma | 87 | January | Oct–Apr |
| Iowa | 71 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Montana | 61 | July | Jun–Aug |
| Wyoming | 53 | June | May–Sep |
| Kansas | 44 | January | Oct–Jan |
| Nebraska | 32 | October | Sep–Oct |
| North Dakota | 18 | April | Apr–Apr |
| South Dakota | 16 | April | Apr–Apr |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related birds (Thrushes)
American Robin
Eastern Bluebird
Western Bluebird
Swainson's Thrush
Mountain Bluebird
Wood Thrush
Varied Thrush
Townsend's Solitaire
Photography tips
- Use a fast shutter (1/2000 s or faster) for birds in flight.
- Focus on the eye and shoot at the bird's eye level.
- Approach slowly and stop if the bird changes behavior; never bait or flush birds.
- Morning activity peaks in the first two hours after sunrise.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Hermit Thrush?
Nationally, April has the most observations, with the main season from October to May.
Where is Hermit Thrush most often seen?
The most observations come from California, Texas, New York.