Wood Thrush Song

The Wood Thrush returns. Its been a few short weeks but this one was singing a beautiful song this morning!

The Wood Thrush (Hylocichla mustelina) is renowned for its ethereal, flute-like song that echoes through the deciduous forests of eastern North America. Its signature vocalization, often described as a haunting “ee-oh-lay,” is produced using a remarkable anatomical feature: a bifurcated voicebox (syrinx) that allows the bird to sing two notes simultaneously. This creates a rich, harmonized effect that sounds like a duet sung by a single bird. Males typically sing during twilight hours to attract mates and defend territory, and their songs are especially prominent in early spring and summer.

In terms of habitat, the Wood Thrush is a forest specialist. It thrives in mature deciduous woodlands, especially those with a dense understory and moist soil. These environments provide the leaf litter and invertebrates—like snails, caterpillars, and beetles—that make up its protein-rich diet during the breeding season. Later in the year, it shifts to fruits and nuts. Wood Thrushes are most commonly found in the eastern U.S. and parts of southeastern Canada, and they migrate to Central America for the winter.

Unfortunately, Wood Thrush populations have been declining due to habitat fragmentation, acid rain (which affects calcium-rich food sources), and nest parasitism by Brown-headed Cowbirds. Despite this, they remain a cherished symbol of North American woodlands, and their song continues to inspire conservation efforts and delight birdwatchers across the continent.


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