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Thrushes (Turdidae)

Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus) - HBW 10, p. 705

French: Grive solitaire German: Einsiedlerdrossel Spanish: Zorzalito Colirrufo

Taxonomy: Muscicapa guttata Pallas, 1811, Kodiak Island, Alaska, USA.
Formerly placed in Hylocichla, along with C. fuscescens, C. minimus, C. bicknelli and C. ustulatus. Races form three groups, differing in size and plumage coloration: Pacific coast W group (nominate, nanus and slevini) typically small, brown above, with grey-washed flanks; interior mountain W group (sequoiensis, polionotus and auduboni) typically large, greyish and paler above, with more extensive and contrasting spotting below; and E group (faxoni and crymophilus) typically mid-sized, dull brown above, flanks.. View all taxonomy...

Taxonomy: Muscicapa guttata Pallas, 1811, Kodiak Island, Alaska, USA.
Formerly placed in Hylocichla, along with C. fuscescens, C. minimus, C. bicknelli and C. ustulatus. Races form three groups, differing in size and plumage coloration: Pacific coast W group (nominate, nanus and slevini) typically small, brown above, with grey-washed flanks; interior mountain W group (sequoiensis, polionotus and auduboni) typically large, greyish and paler above, with more extensive and contrasting spotting below; and E group (faxoni and crymophilus) typically mid-sized, dull brown above, flanks washed tawny-buff. Up to 13 races have been described, but geographical variation to some extent clinal; euborius is regarded as synonymous with nominate, jewetti and oromelus with slevini, munroi with auduboni, and osgoodi, verecundus and vaccinius with nanus. Eight subspecies currently recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution:

  • guttatus (Pallas, 1811) - S Alaska and W Canada; non-breeding W USA and N & C Mexico.
  • nanus (Audubon, 1839) - SE Alaska and W Canada; non-breeding W USA, NW Mexico (Baja California).
  • slevini (Grinnell, 1901) - W coast of USA; non-breeding NW Mexico.

     See all 8 subspecies
  • guttatus (Pallas, 1811) - S Alaska and W Canada; non-breeding W USA and N & C Mexico.
  • nanus (Audubon, 1839) - SE Alaska and W Canada; non-breeding W USA, NW Mexico (Baja California).
  • slevini (Grinnell, 1901) - W coast of USA; non-breeding NW Mexico.
  • sequoiensis (Belding, 1889) - mountains of SW USA, also NW & N Mexico in N Baja California (Sierra San Pedro Martir) and Chihuahua; non-breeding SC USA and N Mexico.
  • auduboni (S. F. Baird, 1864) - Rocky Mts of WC Canada and NW USA; non-breeding WC USA and Mexico S to Guatemala.
  • polionotus (Grinnell, 1918) - Rocky Mts of NC USA; non-breeding W Mexico.
  • faxoni (Bangs & Penard, 1921) - EC & E Canada and E USA; non-breeding SE USA and NE & EC Mexico.
  • crymophilus (Burleigh & J. L. Peters, 1948) - Newfoundland and adjacent areas; non-breeding SE & SC USA.
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