Bird
Hermit Thrush
Catharus guttatus
Lives in Virginia all year and nests here. Found in all 133 counties and cities, across 18 habitats.
- Here
- All year
- Nesting
- Nests here
- Range
- All 133 counties and cities
- Habitats
- 18

At a glance
- Group
- Birds
- Here
- All year
- Nesting
- Nests here
- Range
- All 133 counties and cities
- Habitats
- 18
- Habitat models
- Summer, Winter
Where it lives
The places its habitat model includes. It is not found everywhere a habitat occurs.
Habitats in Virginia 18
Each habitat page lists the plants and wildlife also found there.




Streams, rivers and their banks


Disturbed and introduced wetlands
Wet ground taken over by weedy or introduced plants after disturbance, such as common reed, Chinese tallow or tamarisk stands; the upland counterpart is roadsides, fields and disturbed ground.
Forests and open woodlands on dry ridges and slopes, often oak or pine.
Floodplain and bottomland forests
Forests on low ground beside rivers and streams that flood from time to time.
Flat, poorly drained uplands and terraces with oaks, sweetgum and sometimes loblolly pine, wet in winter and dry in summer, but neither a floodplain nor a swamp.
Salt-pruned forests and shrub thickets behind coastal dunes.
Forests between dry and moist, often oak-hickory on slopes.
High mountain forests of beech, yellow birch and sugar maple, including boulderfield forests.
Flat, sandy Coastal Plain pine woodlands, wetter than sandhills and denser than savannas.
Open, fire-kept longleaf pine stands over grasses and wildflowers on wet to moist sandy soil.
Dense evergreen shrub wetlands and bay forests on wet, acid peat of the Coastal Plain.
Places where groundwater keeps the soil or rock wet, such as seepage slopes and spring runs.
Tree plantations and managed pine
Planted or intensively managed stands of pine or hardwoods grown for timber; a land use rather than a natural community.
Other habitats in its models (88)
Land cover, or classes with no habitat page in Virginia. Those recorded in Virginia first, the rest by region.
In Virginia 1
- Atlantic Coastal Plain Upland Longleaf Pine Woodland Summer.
Elsewhere in the South (51)
- Atlantic Coastal Plain Small Blackwater River Floodplain Forest Winter.
- Atlantic Coastal Plain Southern Maritime Forest Winter.
- Atlantic Coastal Plain Southern Wet Pine Savanna and Flatwoods Winter.
- Central Florida Pine Flatwoods Winter.
- East Gulf Coastal Plain Maritime Forest Winter.
- East Gulf Coastal Plain Near-Coast Pine Flatwoods Winter.
- East Gulf Coastal Plain Northern Loess Bluff Forest Winter.
- East Gulf Coastal Plain Northern Mesic Hardwood Forest Winter.
- East Gulf Coastal Plain Small Stream and River Floodplain Forest Winter.
- East Gulf Coastal Plain Southern Loblolly-Hardwood Flatwoods Winter.
- East Gulf Coastal Plain Southern Loess Bluff Forest Winter.
- East Gulf Coastal Plain Southern Mesic Slope Forest Winter.
- East-Central Texas Plains Floodplain Forest Winter.
- East-Central Texas Plains Pine Forest and Woodland Winter.
- East-Central Texas Plains Post Oak Savanna and Woodland Winter.
- East-Central Texas Plains Riparian Forest Winter.
- Lower Mississippi River Flatwoods Winter.
- Mississippi Delta Maritime Forest Winter.
- Mississippi River Alluvial Plain Dry-Mesic Loess Slope Forest Winter.
- Mississippi River Bottomland Depression Winter.
- Mississippi River Low Floodplain (Bottomland) Forest Winter.
- Mississippi River Riparian Forest Winter.
- Ouachita Montane Oak Forest Winter.
- Ozark-Ouachita Dry Oak Woodland Winter.
- Ozark-Ouachita Dry-Mesic Oak Forest Winter.
- Ozark-Ouachita Mesic Hardwood Forest Winter.
- Ozark-Ouachita Riparian Winter.
- Ozark-Ouachita Shortleaf Pine-Bluestem Woodland Winter.
- Ozark-Ouachita Shortleaf Pine-Oak Forest and Woodland Winter.
- Red River Large Floodplain Forest Winter.
- South Florida Cypress Dome Winter.
- South Florida Hardwood Hammock Winter.
- South Florida Pine Flatwoods Winter.
- South-Central Interior / Upper Coastal Plain Wet Flatwoods Winter.
- Southern Coastal Plain Blackwater River Floodplain Forest Winter.
- Southern Coastal Plain Hydric Hammock Winter.
- Southern Coastal Plain Nonriverine Basin Swamp Winter.
- Southern Coastal Plain Nonriverine Cypress Dome Winter.
- Southern Coastal Plain Seepage Swamp and Baygall Winter.
- Southern Crowley's Ridge Mesic Loess Slope Forest Winter.
- West Gulf Coastal Plain Catahoula Barrens Winter.
- West Gulf Coastal Plain Large River Floodplain Forest Winter.
- West Gulf Coastal Plain Mesic Hardwood Forest Winter.
- West Gulf Coastal Plain Near-Coast Large River Swamp Winter.
- West Gulf Coastal Plain Nonriverine Wet Hardwood Flatwoods Winter.
- West Gulf Coastal Plain Pine-Hardwood Flatwoods Winter.
- West Gulf Coastal Plain Pine-Hardwood Forest Winter.
- West Gulf Coastal Plain Sandhill Oak and Shortleaf Pine Forest and Woodland Winter.
- West Gulf Coastal Plain Seepage Swamp and Baygall Winter.
- West Gulf Coastal Plain Upland Longleaf Pine Forest and Woodland Winter.
- West Gulf Coastal Plain Wet Longleaf Pine Savanna and Flatwoods Winter.
Northeast (9)
- Acadian Low-Elevation Spruce-Fir-Hardwood Forest Summer.
- Acadian-Appalachian Montane Spruce-Fir Forest Summer.
- Central Appalachian Alkaline Glade and Woodland Summer.
- Eastern Boreal Floodplain Summer.
- Laurentian-Acadian Northern Hardwoods Forest Summer.
- Laurentian-Acadian Northern Pine-(Oak) Forest Summer.
- Laurentian-Acadian Pine-Hemlock-Hardwood Forest Summer.
- North-Central Interior Wet Flatwoods Summer.
- Northeastern Interior Pine Barrens Summer.
Midwest (4)
- Boreal Aspen-Birch Forest Summer.
- Laurentian Jack Pine-Red Pine Forest Summer.
- North-Central Interior Beech-Maple Forest Summer.
- North-Central Interior Maple-Basswood Forest Summer.
West (4)
- North American Warm Desert Lower Montane Riparian Woodland and Shrubland Winter.
- North American Warm Desert Riparian Mesquite Bosque Winter.
- North American Warm Desert Riparian Woodland and Shrubland Winter.
- North American Warm Desert Wash Winter.
Land cover and other classes (19)
- Atlantic Coastal Plain Clay-Based Carolina Bay Forested Wetland Winter.
- Boreal Jack Pine-Black Spruce Forest Summer.
- Boreal White Spruce-Fir-Hardwood Forest Summer.
- East Gulf Coastal Plain Jackson Plain Dry Flatwoods - Open Understory Modifier Winter.
- East Gulf Coastal Plain Large River Floodplain Forest - Forest Modifier Winter.
- East Gulf Coastal Plain Near-Coast Pine Flatwoods - Offsite Hardwood Modifier Winter.
- East Gulf Coastal Plain Near-Coast Pine Flatwoods - Open Understory Modifier Winter.
- East Gulf Coastal Plain Near-Coast Pine Flatwoods - Scrub/Shrub Understory Modifier Winter.
- Laurentian-Acadian Floodplain Systems Summer.
- Lower Mississippi River Bottomland Depressions - Forest Modifier Winter.
- Mississippi River Floodplain and Riparian Forest Winter.
- North American Warm Desert Riparian Systems Winter.
- Northeastern Interior Dry Oak Forest - Mixed Modifier Summer.
- Northeastern Interior Dry Oak Forest - Virginia/Pitch Pine Modifier Summer.
- Northeastern Interior Dry Oak Forest-Hardwood Modifier Summer.
- Southern Coastal Plain Nonriverine Basin Swamp - Okefenokee Bay/Gum Modifier Winter.
- Southern Coastal Plain Nonriverine Basin Swamp - Okefenokee Clethra Modifier Winter.
- Southern Coastal Plain Nonriverine Basin Swamp - Okefenokee Pine Modifier Winter.
- Southern Coastal Plain Nonriverine Basin Swamp - Okefenokee Taxodium Modifier Winter.
Seasons in Virginia
- Year-round: nests here, in 19 of 133 counties and cities.
- Winter: does not nest here, in 129 of 133 counties and cities.
Food plants
Diet records by plant genus, from studies across North America. Not a record from this state. Plants matched by genus.
Native plants in these genera 187
- Common WinterberryIlex verticillata
- Ilex opaca var. opacaIlex opaca var. opaca
- Large GallberryIlex coriacea
- Longstalk HollyIlex collina
- Mountain HollyIlex montana
- Possumhaw HollyIlex decidua
- Smooth WinterberryIlex laevigata
- Yaupon HollyIlex vomitoria
- InkberryIlex glabra
- Smooth SumacRhus glabra
- Eastern Winged SumacRhus copallinum var. latifolia
- Staghorn SumacRhus typhina
- Fragrant Sumac; Squawbush; Squaw BushRhus aromatica var. aromatica
- Michaux's SumacRhus michauxii
- Bristly GreenbrierSmilax hispida
- Upright Carrion FlowerSmilax ecirrata
- Cat GreenbrierSmilax glauca
- Common GreenbrierSmilax rotundifolia
- Coral GreenbrierSmilax walteri
- Laurel GreenbrierSmilax laurifolia
- Smooth Carrion-flowerSmilax herbacea
- Coastal Carrion-flowerSmilax pseudochina
- Downy Carrion-flowerSmilax pulverulenta
Plant genera in its diet records (46)
- Ilex Fruit and seeds. 4 diet records. 9 native plants in Virginia
- Rhus Fruit and seeds. 4 diet records. 6 native plants in Virginia
- Smilax Fruit and seeds. 3 diet records. 9 native plants in Virginia
- Celtis Fruit and seeds. 2 diet records. 3 native plants in Virginia
- Cornus Fruit and seeds. 2 diet records. 0 native plants in Virginia
- Maianthemum Fruit and seeds. 2 diet records. 3 native plants in Virginia
- Morella Fruit and seeds. 2 diet records. 4 native plants in Virginia
- Sambucus Fruit and seeds. 2 diet records. 2 native plants in Virginia
- Solanum Fruit and seeds. 2 diet records. 2 native plants in Virginia
- Toxicodendron Fruit and seeds. 2 diet records. 3 native plants in Virginia
- Viburnum Fruit and seeds. 2 diet records. 10 native plants in Virginia
- Vitis Fruit and seeds. 2 diet records. 9 native plants in Virginia
- Acalypha Fruit and seeds. 1 diet record. 4 native plants in Virginia
- Amelanchier Fruit and seeds. 1 diet record. 7 native plants in Virginia
- Aralia Fruit and seeds. 1 diet record. 4 native plants in Virginia
- Aronia Fruit and seeds. 1 diet record. 3 native plants in Virginia
- Berchemia Fruit and seeds. 1 diet record. 1 native plant in Virginia
- Castanea Fruit and seeds. 1 diet record. 2 native plants in Virginia
- Celastrus Fruit and seeds. 1 diet record. 1 native plant in Virginia
- Claytonia Fruit and seeds. 1 diet record. 2 native plants in Virginia
- Crataegus Fruit and seeds. 1 diet record. 22 native plants in Virginia
- Euonymus Fruit and seeds. 1 diet record. 2 native plants in Virginia
- Ficus Fruit and seeds. 1 diet record. 0 native plants in Virginia
- Fragaria Fruit and seeds. 1 diet record. 1 native plant in Virginia
- Galium Fruit and seeds. 1 diet record. 15 native plants in Virginia
- Gaultheria Fruit and seeds. 1 diet record. 1 native plant in Virginia
- Gaylussacia Fruit and seeds. 1 diet record. 4 native plants in Virginia
- Juniperus Fruit and seeds. 1 diet record. 2 native plants in Virginia
- Lindera Fruit and seeds. 1 diet record. 1 native plant in Virginia
- Liquidambar Fruit and seeds. 1 diet record. 1 native plant in Virginia
- Lonicera Fruit and seeds. 1 diet record. 3 native plants in Virginia
- Malosma Fruit and seeds. 1 diet record. 0 native plants in Virginia
- Morus Fruit and seeds. 1 diet record. 1 native plant in Virginia
- Nyssa Fruit and seeds. 1 diet record. 3 native plants in Virginia
- Parthenocissus Fruit and seeds. 1 diet record. 2 native plants in Virginia
- Phoradendron Fruit and seeds. 1 diet record. 0 native plants in Virginia
- Phytolacca Fruit and seeds. 1 diet record. 2 native plants in Virginia
- Prunus Fruit and seeds. 1 diet record. 7 native plants in Virginia
- Rhamnus Fruit and seeds. 1 diet record. 0 native plants in Virginia
- Ribes Fruit and seeds. 1 diet record. 4 native plants in Virginia
- Rosa Fruit and seeds. 1 diet record. 3 native plants in Virginia
- Rubus Fruit and seeds. 1 diet record. 9 native plants in Virginia
- Sassafras Fruit and seeds. 1 diet record. 1 native plant in Virginia
- Schinus Fruit and seeds. 1 diet record. 0 native plants in Virginia
- Symphoricarpos Fruit and seeds. 1 diet record. 3 native plants in Virginia
- Vaccinium Fruit and seeds. 1 diet record. 16 native plants in Virginia
Also found in its main habitats
Its main habitats in Virginia, by how much of its habitat model each one is, with the birds most characteristic of each and the plants that grow wild there. Shared habitat, not food.
Hermit Thrush uses many habitats in Virginia; these are its 3 most characteristic.
Dry forests and woodlands
Birds 60
- Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostra
- Pine WarblerDendroica pinus
- Brown-headed NuthatchSitta pusilla
- Blackburnian WarblerDendroica fusca
- Brewer's BlackbirdEuphagus cyanocephalus
- Red-breasted NuthatchSitta canadensis
- Blue-headed VireoVireo solitarius
- Louisiana WaterthrushSeiurus motacilla
- White-winged CrossbillLoxia leucoptera
- Yellow-throated WarblerDendroica dominica
- Black-throated Blue WarblerDendroica caerulescens
- Canada WarblerWilsonia canadensis
Plants 230
- American ChestnutCastanea dentata
- Eastern Winged SumacRhus copallinum var. latifolia
- Godfrey's ThoroughwortEupatorium godfreyanum
- White ThoroughwortEupatorium album
- Sessileleaf Tick-trefoilDesmodium sessilifolium
- Leavenworth's SedgeCarex leavenworthii
- Southern Whitetinge SedgeCarex albicans var. australis
- Southern LoosestrifeSteironema tonsum
- Carolina LilyLilium michauxii
- Tall BellflowerCampanulastrum americanum
- Bigleaf SnowbellStyrax grandifolius
- Delicate Rabbit-tobaccoPseudognaphalium micradenium
Moist forests
Birds 45
- Blackburnian WarblerDendroica fusca
- Blue-headed VireoVireo solitarius
- Louisiana WaterthrushSeiurus motacilla
- Black-throated Blue WarblerDendroica caerulescens
- Canada WarblerWilsonia canadensis
- Cerulean WarblerDendroica cerulea
- OvenbirdSeiurus aurocapilla
- Black-throated Green WarblerDendroica virens
- Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterus
- Brown-headed CowbirdMolothrus ater
- Chuck-will's-widowCaprimulgus carolinensis
- Evening GrosbeakCoccothraustes vespertinus
Plants 363
- Gorge GoldenrodSolidago faucibus
- Mountain HollyIlex montana
- Smooth Blue AsterSymphyotrichum laeve
- Appalachian SnakerootAgeratina roanensis
- Sweet Scented Joe Pye WeedEutrochium purpureum var. purpureum
- Common Sweet White VioletViola incognita
- Fewflower Tick-trefoilHylodesmum pauciflorum
- Bigleaf MagnoliaMagnolia macrophylla
- Umbrella MagnoliaMagnolia tripetala
- Smooth Carrion-flowerSmilax herbacea
- Pointedleaf Tick-trefoilHylodesmum glutinosum
- Blue Ridge Hedge-nettleStachys subcordata
Tree plantations and managed pine
Birds 35
- House FinchCarpodacus mexicanus
- Yellow-throated VireoVireo flavifrons
- Pine WarblerDendroica pinus
- Blue-headed VireoVireo solitarius
- Loggerhead ShrikeLanius ludovicianus
- White-winged CrossbillLoxia leucoptera
- Cerulean WarblerDendroica cerulea
- OvenbirdSeiurus aurocapilla
- Palm WarblerDendroica palmarum
- White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrys
- Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterus
- Brown-headed CowbirdMolothrus ater
Plants 2
- Loblolly PinePinus taeda
- Red PinePinus resinosa
Sources
- USGS Gap Analysis Project habitat models (2001)
- USGS GAP winter habitat model for Hermit Thrush
- USGS Gap Analysis Project range maps (2001), modeled by watershed; migratory gives no dates
- NatureServe Explorer (CC BY 4.0), habitat names
- US Census TIGER/Line counties
- Names follow the USGS Gap Analysis Project (2001)
- Avian Diet Database (Hurlbert Lab) (CC0 1.0), diet records by plant genus





























































