Well, everyone had the good manners to not correct me on my Hermit Thrushes.
I think they are Swainsons after listening to my tapes over and over. The
song is like a couple of short flute-like whistles which rises up then ends
in a tremolo violin type sound, almost a chine, but not quite.

They remind me so much of their Belize cousins, Slate-colored Solitaire.
Now, there is a birdsong I will never forget. All the more special because
you have to get really far back in the wilderness to hear it, and seeing it
is a real challenge. The song is a pure, sweet, long flute-like song with a
lovely chime at the end. It is the most beautiful sound I have ever heard.
Their call note, on the other hand is a rough scolding sound, and they are
the plainest of little gray birds when you see them.

Like the Solitaire, this Thrush is secretive and likes to go to the tops of
the trees near steep river banks to sing so that his song will echo eerily
down the river. The Solitaire is almost a ventriloquist, and it was very
hard to decide where to look. Perhaps it was the location, at Puente
Natural deep in the Chiquibul Forest in Belize. It is a huge natural bridge
over a wild jungle river that is too far to go in a day and too difficult to
really go at all. We went as outfitters on scientific surveys and had a
Unimog take us in, about 12 hours into the bush. What an adventure! I
wouldn't trade those memories for anything.

So, which are more common, the Hermit or Swainson's Thrush?

I don't claim to be a pro-birder, just an avid amateur. I let the
scientists do the science; I just enjoy, and learn a lot.