Friday's Foto

The Hermit Thrush is one of only three thrush species likely to be found around Brooklyn during the cold winter months. The other two hardy species are American Robin and Eastern Bluebird. Feeding on bittersweet and other berries during the winter, they are easily identified by their habit of slowly lifting their rusty red tail. They can frequently be heard making a soft, "chuck" call when hidden within a shrub or low in the understory. The International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources list their conservation status as "Least Concern" as their populations have been rising since 1966.