Date: 12/25/25 5:53 pm From: Susan Campbell <susan...> Subject: Re: Hermit Thrush foot-pattering at close range
Nate and All,
The behavior you witnessed the Hermit Thrush performing is referred to as “foot quivering.” I have witnessed an individual doing this in late winter at Weymouth Woods on two occasions. It used each foot alternately.
I assumed the bird was attempting to drive insect prey from the litter on the trail. It did bend to grab food items, but I could not tell what exactly it was eating.
There is at least one reference to this in the species’ BNA account.
Susan Campbell
Apex, NC
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From: <carolinabirds-request...> <carolinabirds-request...> on behalf of Nate Dias <carolinabirds...>
Sent: Wednesday, December 24, 2025 6:19:54 PM
To: CarolinaBirds <carolinabirds...>
Subject: Hermit Thrush foot-pattering at close range
This morning I looked out the window at Rancho Dias and saw a Hermit Thrush standing on the ground right outside, under a Dogwood tree. Its right foot (nearest me) was a blur as it tapped the ground in a flurry of motions. Then it stepped forward and its left foot blurred in rapid little foot stomps.
It was different than a Piping Plover's foot patter - the thrush seemed significantly faster.
It moved off down the path and my mother and I moved to the kitchen to watch it out of that window at a range of 4-5 feet.
Later this afternoon I was home in Red Top and my mother called to say she had just watched the Hermit Thrush pull a long earthworm out of the ground (like a Robin she said). Later she texted to say she had watched the thrush drinking and bathing in her birdbath.
The moral of the story is ALWAYS keep your birdbath clean and disinfected because you never know what marvelous guest will appear and want to use it.
"These days I prefer to hunt with a camera. A good photograph demands more skill from the hunter, better nerves and more patience than the rifle shot." -- Bror Blixen
