SWAMP ANGEL

Catharus guttatus

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IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC)

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SWAMP ANGEL

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Catharus guttatus (Pallas, 1811) Catharus guttatus (Pallas, 1811) Catharus guttatus (Pallas, 1811)

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Behavior

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Animal Diversity Web external link
 
Catherine Blasch
Some rights reserved
Some rights reserved

Hermit thrushes can be distinguished from other similar thrushes in the field not only by their song, but also by other distinctive behaviors including tail- and wing-flicking. When a bird lands, it may quickly raise and then slowly lower its tail. It also makes a distinctive "tchup" call when doing this. When perched, hermit thrushes will extend their wings out from their bodies very rapidly and then immediately return them to their sides.

Males are territorial during breeding and winter seasons. Males arrive on breeding grounds before females and establish territories. Males initially display hostile behavior when a female first enters the territory, but after 3 to 4 days of developing courtship flight, they accept the female. Territoriality on wintering grounds likely results from competition for food and cover. Agonistic displays include gaping, crest raising, horizontal stretching, and bill snapping. (Brown, Stouffer, and Strong, 2000; Jones and Donovan, 1996)