State Bird LC · Least Concern

Vermont State Bird

Hermit Thrush
Catharus guttatus · Designated 1941 · Thrushes

State profile

Why the Hermit Thrush fits Vermont

The Hermit Thrush feels like a natural fit for Vermont because it belongs to spruce-fir ridges, cool mountain forest, and shaded northern understory. Whether you notice it around Green Mountain National Forest or in an ordinary neighborhood yard, the species reflects the parts of Vermont people actually see and hear, not a remote corner of the map.
Quick Answer
The state bird of Vermont is the Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus), designated in 1941.

Why Vermont Chose the Hermit Thrush

Vermont designated the Hermit Thrush in 1941 because of its deep association with cool northern woods and the way its quiet mountain character fits Vermont's forest identity. It was a practical symbolic choice: familiar to residents, visible across much of the state, and easy to connect with local schools, gardens, farms, parks, or conservation culture.

About the Hermit Thrush

A warm brown back, spotted breast, reddish tail, and gentle woodland posture help the Hermit Thrush stand apart from plainer thrush relatives. In Vermont, it looks especially at home across spruce-fir ridges, cool mountain forest, and shaded northern understory.

It forages quietly on the forest floor, pauses upright to listen, and nests in cool conifer or mixed woodland where understory cover stays intact. It uses spruce-fir forest, cool mixed woodland, and shaded mountain understory well, which helps explain why the bird feels familiar well beyond protected areas.

Where to See the Hermit Thrush in Vermont

In Vermont, start with Green Mountain National Forest, Molly Bog, and Camel's Hump State Park. Look along quiet woodland edges and damp trails for a bird freezing upright before hopping back into cover. Late spring and early summer are best because birds are territorial and easier to locate in mountain forest. These kinds of places match the bird's preferred mix of spruce-fir forest, cool mixed woodland, and shaded mountain understory.

Conservation

The Hermit Thrush is currently listed as LC. Hermit Thrushes still occupy broad forest range, though warming conditions and changes in mature cool-forest structure can affect local breeding habitat.

Explore the collection

All 50 State Birds

All 50 US states have designated official state birds. The most commonly chosen are the Northern Cardinal and the Western Meadowlark.

Alabama
Northern Flicker
Since 1927
Alaska
Willow Ptarmigan
Since 1955
Arizona
Cactus Wren
Since 1931
Arkansas
Northern Mockingbird
Since 1929
California
California Quail
Since 1931
Colorado
Lark Bunting
Since 1931
Connecticut
American Robin
Since 1943
Delaware
Blue Hen Chicken
Since 1939
Florida
Northern Mockingbird
Since 1927
Georgia
Brown Thrasher
Since 1935
Hawaii
Hawaiian Goose
Since 1957
Idaho
Mountain Bluebird
Since 1931
Illinois
Northern Cardinal
Since 1929
Indiana
Northern Cardinal
Since 1933
Iowa
American Goldfinch
Since 1933
Kansas
Western Meadowlark
Since 1937
Kentucky
Northern Cardinal
Since 1926
Louisiana
Brown Pelican
Since 1966
Maine
Black-capped Chickadee
Since 1927
Maryland
Baltimore Oriole
Since 1947
Massachusetts
Black-capped Chickadee
Since 1941
Michigan
American Robin
Since 1931
Minnesota
Common Loon
Since 1961
Mississippi
Northern Mockingbird
Since 1944
Missouri
Eastern Bluebird
Since 1927
Montana
Western Meadowlark
Since 1931
Nebraska
Western Meadowlark
Since 1929
Nevada
Mountain Bluebird
Since 1967
New Hampshire
Purple Finch
Since 1957
New Jersey
American Goldfinch
Since 1935
New Mexico
Greater Roadrunner
Since 1949
New York
Eastern Bluebird
Since 1970
North Carolina
Northern Cardinal
Since 1943
North Dakota
Western Meadowlark
Since 1947
Ohio
Northern Cardinal
Since 1933
Oklahoma
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher
Since 1951
Oregon
Western Meadowlark
Since 1927
Pennsylvania
Ruffed Grouse
Since 1931
Rhode Island
Rhode Island Red
Since 1954
South Carolina
Carolina Wren
Since 1948
South Dakota
Ring-necked Pheasant
Since 1943
Tennessee
Northern Mockingbird
Since 1933
Texas
Northern Mockingbird
Since 1927
Utah
California Gull
Since 1955
Virginia
Northern Cardinal
Since 1950
Washington
American Goldfinch
Since 1951
West Virginia
Northern Cardinal
Since 1949
Wisconsin
American Robin
Since 1949
Wyoming
Western Meadowlark
Since 1927

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Vermont state bird?
Good starting points include Green Mountain National Forest, Molly Bog, and Camel's Hump State Park. Look along quiet woodland edges and damp trails for a bird freezing upright before hopping back into cover.

Source citations

How this state-bird page is sourced

State-bird pages separate official-symbol facts, bird data, and editorial prose so a correction can target the right layer.

  1. State designation facts from the KTP state-bird data contract and page data.
  2. Taxonomy, measurements, family, and conservation fields from structured pipeline data.
  3. Editorial prose reviewed against KTP rules for no invented numbers and no field-certainty claims from generated art.

Correction log

Correction log

  • Official state-symbol details are corrected at the state-bird data source, then republished into PAGE_DATA.
  • Bird measurements, family labels, and conservation fields are corrected in the structured species pipeline rather than patched in prose.
  • Generated prose is revised only after the owning data fields and section contract are confirmed.
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