Animalia Life

Catharus guttatus
TAXONOMY
Muscicapa guttata Pallas, 1811, Alaska.
OTHER COMMON NAMES
French: Grive solitaire; German: Einsiedlerdrossel: Spanish: Zorzal de hermit.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
6.3–7.1 in (16–18 cm); male 1.0–1.3 oz (27–37 g); female 1.0–1.1 oz (27–32 g). Rich brown to grayish brown upperparts; reddish tail; whitish underparts with buff-washed breast and gray- or brownish-washed flanks; dark spots on breast and sides of throat. There are size and color variations across the wide breeding range of this species.
DISTRIBUTION
North America, breeding from Alaska to Newfoundland across Canada and south to California, New Mexico; Long Island; winters in southern United States and Central America.
HABITAT
Coniferous and mixed woodlands and thickets, forest bogs and clearings, also very dry areas but prefers neighborhood of water.
BEHAVIOR
More secretive than shy, usually solitary, terrestrial or flitting through low vegetation, hopping about on open grass or in deep cover and flying into higher canopy if disturbed; flicks wings and tail and quickly raises and slowly lowers tail on landing.
FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET
Worms, insects, and fruits.
REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY
Breeds May–August, nest of twigs, bark, grass, and roots in tree; three to four eggs incubated only by female for 11–13 days, chicks fly after 10–15 days; two broods.
CONSERVATION STATUS
Not threatened.
SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS
None known.

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