The Wood Thrush - Hylocichla mustelina - is widely distributed across North America, wintering in Central America and Southern Mexico. It is the official bird of the District of Columbia. It is solitary, but sometimes forms mixed-species flocks. The Wood Thrush defends a territory that ranges in size from 800 to 28000 square meters

Description

The Wood Thrush is a medium-sized thrush and the male and female are similar in appearance. The crown, nape, and upper back are cinnamon-brown, while the back, wings, and tail are a slightly duller brown. The breast and belly are white with large dark brown spots on the breast, sides, and flanks. It has white eye rings and pink legs. Young birds look similar to adults, but have additional spots on the back, neck, and wing coverts.

Call

The male has one of the most beautiful songs of all birds in North America. The unique song has three parts. The first sub song component is often inaudible unless the listener is close, and consists of two to six short, low-pitched notes such as bup, bup, bup. The middle part is a loud phrase often written ee-oh-lay, and the third part is a ventriloquial, tril.

Food

The Wood Thrush is an omnivore, and feeds preferentially on soil invertebrates and larvae, but will also eat fruits. In the summer, it feeds on insects continuously in order to meet daily metabolic needs. It forages mainly on the forest floor, flipping leaves over with their bills to reveal insects.

Breeding

Wood Thrushes are monogamous. Breeding pairs form in mid-April to early-May, and usually last throughout the breeding season. The female chooses the nest site and builds the nest. Two to four pale blue eggs are laid and are incubated by the female for 11 to 14 days. Both parents feed the young. The chicks fledge in 12–15 days. The parents continue to feed them for a further 21 to 31 days. About 50 percent of all mated pairs are able to raise two broods, ranging in size from 2 to 4 chicks.

Conservation Status – Least Concern

The Wood Thrush has declined 43 percent since 1966. This thrush faces threats both to its North American breeding grounds and Central American wintering grounds. Forest fragmentation in North American forests has resulted in both increased nest predation and increased cowbird parasitism, significantly reducing their reproductive success.

Birdwatching

It prefers favors areas with running water, moist ground, and high understory cover.