The Hermit Thrush is a small North American songbird that belongs to the thrush family. It is a popular backyard bird that can be found across much of the United States and Canada. Hermit Thrushes have distinctive brown backs and reddish tails. Their underbellies are white with dark spots on the breast. These songbirds get their name from their shy, reclusive nature. Hermit Thrushes are elusive birds that prefer dense underbrush and forested areas. While they may visit backyards, Hermit Thrushes are typically wary of humans.
When it comes to feeding Hermit Thrushes, it helps to understand their natural diet and foraging behaviors. In the wild, Hermit Thrushes feed on a variety of insects and berries. By offering foods that replicate their wild diet, you can successfully attract Hermit Thrushes to your backyard. Read on to learn more about what to feed Hermit Thrushes.
Natural Diet
Hermit Thrushes are omnivores that eat both plant and animal matter. Their diverse diet allows them to adapt to seasonal changes in food availability. Here is an overview of the primary foods that make up the Hermit Thrush’s wild diet:
Insects
Insects and other invertebrates make up the majority of a Hermit Thrush’s diet, particularly during spring and summer months. They use their slender beaks to probe through leaf litter searching for insects on the forest floor. Hermit Thrushes are especially fond of beetles, caterpillars, ants, grubs, spiders, and worms. These high-protein foods provide an important source of nutrition for breeding and young birds.
Berries
When insect activity declines in fall and winter, Hermit Thrushes switch to eating more berries and fruits. Favored berries include juniper, sumac, dogwood, and poison ivy. They also eat the fruits and berries of viburnum, grape, Virginia creeper, and more. The sugary fruits provide essential carbohydrates and some fat.
Seeds
While not a staple, Hermit Thrushes occasionally supplement their diet with seeds. This may include the seeds of trees, shrubs, or grasses. They are more likely to eat seeds in winter when other foods are scarce.
Backyard Feeding Tips
You can attract Hermit Thrushes to your yard by offering a diversity of foods that match their natural diet. Here are some feeding tips:
Provide Insect Foods
To satisfy a Hermit Thrush’s craving for insects, provide high-protein live and dried mealworms in ground feeders or trays. You can also offer live insects you collect yourself, like crickets and beetles. Canned insects, such as grasshoppers or crickets, are another good option. Suet with insects is also appreciated. Avoid large seeds or dried fruit in suet, as these are difficult for Hermit Thrushes to eat.
Offer Fruit
Put out sliced grapes, blueberries, currants, raisins, cherries, strawberries, or other chopped fruit in platform feeders. You can also impale halved grapes, blueberries, or apple chunks on branches, skewers, or wire suet cages. Fruit is best offered from late summer through early spring when insects are in short supply.
Provide Berries
Hermit Thrushes relish sumac and dogwood berries in fall and winter. You can make DIY “berry branches” by wiring shrub cuttings with fruit onto tree branches or posts. Juniper berries can also be skewered whole on branches. Another option is to add commercial berry blends to ground feeders. Select blends made for thrushes with elderberries, cranberries, etc.
Include Suet and Seed
While not their favorite, Hermit Thrushes will eat suet and seed mixes, especially in winter. Select suet with nuts, berries, and fruit. Avoid large seeds. Offer a tailored mix of fine seeds like nyjer, cracked corn, millet, oatmeal, and nut pieces. Platform feeders are ideal for these foods.
Provide Clean Water
Hermit Thrushes need to drink year-round. Provide a shallow birdbath, fountain, or other water source. Add a few rocks for perching. Change water regularly to prevent disease. Consider a small heater in winter.
Reduce Competition
Shyer Hermit Thrushes may avoid crowded feeders. Use multiple small feeders spread apart to reduce bullying. Place low feeders near brush piles or other cover so birds feel secure. Offer high-calorie suet feeders to divert larger birds.
Ideal Feeders for Hermit Thrushes
The right feeder setup makes it easier to successfully feed Hermit Thrushes. Consider using these feeder types:
Platform Feeders
Platform feeders (also called tray or saucer feeders) have an open tray design that allows easy access for ground-feeding Hermit Thrushes. They can find seeds, mealworms, suet nuggets, chopped fruit, and other foods. Look for smaller platform feeders 12-24 inches across.
Platform Feeder Features | Benefits |
---|---|
Wide, shallow tray design | Lets thrushes easily find and reach food |
Raised edges | Help keep foods contained |
Draining holes | Allow excess water to drain to stay clean and dry |
Covered top | Protects against rain and snow |
Wire mesh floor | Allows water and debris to fall through keeping food clean |
Ground Feeders
Ground feeders are low, flat trays placed right on the ground. They offer easy ground access for Hermit Thrushes to find insects, fruit, and seeds up-close. Avoid deep trough designs which could be hard to reach into. Ground feeders with mesh floors help keep foods clean and dry. Scatter mealworms, chopped fruit, and other foods across the surface.
Suet Feeders
Hermit Thrushes eat high-fat suet for energy especially in winter. Select cages with smaller openings that discourage larger birds. Open basket suet feeders are easier for small birds to access. Look for suet feeders with tail props to make feeding more comfortable. Hang them at lower heights suitable for Hermit Thrushes.
Hopper Feeders
While platform feeders are ideal, Hermit Thrushes may also forage for seeds at standard hopper feeders. Use hoppers with weight-sensitive perches to dispense small amounts of seed mixes at a time. This allows thrushes to get seeds while minimizing waste. Place feeders low, near cover, and avoid overcrowding with too many feeders.
Fruit Feeders
Special fruit feeders provide ripening fruit that Hermit Thrushes can neatly pick at. These consist of metal mesh tubes or baskets for holding fruit in place. Gravity feeders have a cup at the base that dispenses fruit as it is eaten. Skewers, branches, and other fruit holders work too. Position them lower to the ground.
Foods to Avoid
Some common bird feeding foods are inappropriate for Hermit Thrushes:
– Peanuts – Difficult for thrushes to open and digest. Peanut butter can lead to sticky feathers.
– Nyjer thistle – Tiny nyjer seeds are too small for thrushes. The seeds’ hard outer shells are also tough to crack open.
– Corn kernels – Whole kernels are too large and challenging for thrushes to eat.
– Baked goods – Bread and similar baked goods lack nutritional value for birds. They can also grow moldy quickly.
– Large seeds – Black oil sunflower seeds, striped sunflower seeds, safflower seeds, mixed birdseed, and similar large seeds are difficult for Hermit Thrushes to eat.
– Fatty seed mixes – Many commercial seed mixes have lots of filler seeds like milo and wheat that thrushes cannot easily eat. Avoid mixes with excess fillers.
Conclusion
With their insect-loving appetites and fondness for fruit, Hermit Thrushes have unique feeding needs. By offering live mealworms, suet, chopped fruits, and small seeds in ground feeders, you can create a suitable backyard buffet. Platform trays and specialized fruit or suet feeders are tailor-made to serve thrushes. Providing water sources, cover, and minimal competition enhances the feeding experience. Adjust foods with the seasons as insects become more or less available. With a little thoughtful planning, you can attract these shy forest songbirds to your yard. Observing Hermit Thrushes drawn to feed can be a rewarding experience and a way to peacefully connect with nature.