Like Roy, I have observed this foraging behavior in my garden and
elsewhere. Here's a photo
<https://www.flickr.com/photos/10665268@N04/6845893940/in/album-72157627948963568/>
of one doing just that in a trickling stream at the Portland Japanese
Garden a few years ago. This bird was quite bold and seemed to be almost
'dancing' in the stream as it moved its feet and changed posture.
Ed McVicker
Portland
On Mon, Nov 15, 2021 at 5:17 PM Roy Lowe <roy.loweiii@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
I have observed hermit thrushes foraging like this in my yard and they
usually tilt their head to the side to look down for movement.
Roy
Roy Lowe
Waldport, OR
On Nov 15, 2021, at 5:06 PM, Daniel Farrar <jdanielfarrar@xxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
This is something plovers do pretty frequently. I've also seen the
behavior in gulls. No specific info on thrushes but it does not seem
surprising for something that hunts invertebrates. It mimics the percussion
of rain drops which makes worms come to the surface. I wonder if Dan
Gleason knows more specifics about it.
Daniel Farrar
On Mon, Nov 15, 2021, 4:26 PM Tim Rodenkirk <timrodenkirk@xxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
I thought someone on OBOL would have some information on Hermit Thrushes
for Jamie.
Tim
---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Jamie Fereday <jsfereday1017@xxxxxxxxx>
Date: Mon, Nov 15, 2021 at 2:09 PM
Subject: Hermit Thrush leg action
To: Tim Rodenkirk <timrodenkirk@xxxxxxxxx>
Tim,
I was watching a HT in my back yard just now on the lawn. It was hunting
like a robin, apparently for insects or worms, though I didn’t see any
worms of any size nabbed. What got my attention was that each leg/foot,
would in turn, stamp lightly on the ground, as if to make a vibration to
perhaps make prey move. I looked on line briefly for this and nothing yet.
Any experience here?
Jamie
