Shy Songster:
Hermit Thrush  

Aptly named for its retiring ways, the Hermit Thrush is a bird of dense forest understory and thicket that is often heard before it's seen. A quick glimpse reveals a brown-backed, spot-breasted thrush a bit smaller than an American Robin, with a reddish-brown rump and tail. While its species name guttatus is Latin for "spotted," the Hermit Thrush's breast spotting is not as bold nor extensive as that of the Wood Thrush.

Although the Hermit Thrush tends to be rather quiet and unobtrusive, it has a behavioral characteristic that helps reveal its identity. Which behavior can help clinch a Hermit Thrush ID?