Up and Away! Don't blink, or you'll miss this lovely Hermit Thrush as it flies to freedom. This bird was treated for a concussion. Once healed, it was released to continue its important fall migration. Hermit Thrushes primarily feed at ground level on insects. They sometimes use a hunting technique called "foot quivering," where they shake grasses or leaves they are standing on in an effort to stir up bugs. The Hermit Thrush gets its name because they prefer spending their time in densely forest

Is this an ovenbird or a hermit thrush? All birders, even the best of us, make constant errors. Birding is hard. When you’re alone you are free to provide any answer you wish, such as “I have no idea what that was.” Or, a personal favorite, you can choose to ignore the question altogether and tell yourself that it was just a tree squeaking or something. When you’re with other birders, though, someone’s got to say something. Often, there’s an unspoken pressure to be the first to make an identific