Wood Thrush

Wood Thrush adult

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1. Description
2. Sound
3. Conservation Status
4. Other Names
5. Cool Facts
6. Full detailed species account

One of the most common woodland birds of the East, the Wood Thrush is best known for its hauntingly beautiful song. A large and heavily spotted thrush, it is a bird of the interior forest, seldom seen outside the deep woods. Its susceptibility to cowbird parasitism has made it a heavily studied species.

Description

• A large forest thrush, just slightly smaller than an American Robin.
• Back brown, chest white with large dark spots.

• Size: 19-21 cm (7-8 in)
• Wingspan: 30-34 cm (12-13 in)
• Weight: 40-50 g (1.41-1.77 ounces)

Sex Differences

Sexes alike

Sound

Song a series of yodeled phrases with a pause in between each phrase, and complex, flute-like notes. "ee-oh-lay." Calls a rapid "pit-pit-pit." Nocturnal flight call an emphatic buzzy "heeh," on one tone or only slightly descending.

Conservation Status

Even though it is one of the most common species of Eastern forests, the Wood Thrush is of high conservation concern because of steady, long-term population declines, nearly throughout its range. This species has declined 43% overall since 1966. This species seems to be dependent on large tracts of mature forest in some parts of its range, but is tolerant of disturbance in other areas. In winter, it is highly vulnerable to tropical deforestation in the lowlands of Central America. Understanding the precise breeding habitat requirements of this species, and how they vary geographically, will be important for reversing population declines and maintaining future populations. Listed on the Audubon Watchlist.

Other Names

Grive des bois (French)
Zorzal del Bosque, Zorzal maculado, Zorzal pechimanchado, Tordo maculado (Spanish)

Cool Facts

• Declines in Wood Thrush populations have been linked to acid rain and forest fragmentation by studies conducted by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's Bird Population Studies, using data from the Birds in Forested Landscapes project. For more information about the study and its findings, go here.
• The Brown-headed Cowbird frequently parasitizes the nests of Wood Thrushes. In some parts of the Midwest all of the Wood Thrush nests contain at least one cowbird egg, and some may contain up to eight.

• After the young leave the nest, the parents divide up the brood with each parent feeding only half.

• A Wood Thrush often returns to the same breeding territory in successive years. It also may return to the same wintering area each year.

• Has been observed "anting." Anting occurs when a bird picks up a single ant or group of ants and rubs them on its feathers. The purpose of this behavior is not well understood. It is thought that birds may be able to acquire defensive secretions from the ants possibly used for some medicinal purpose. Also may be a supplement to the bird's own preen oil.

Sources used to construct this page:

1. Roth, R. R., M. S. Johnson, and T. J. Underwood. 1996. Wood Thrush (Hylocichla mustelina). In The Birds of North America, No. 246 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, PA, and The American Ornithologists' Union, Washington, D.C.
2. Evans, W. E., and M. O'Brian. Flight Calls of the Birds of Eastern North America. CD, self-published.