ODNR Division of Wildlife - A to Z Species Guide - Wood Thrush

Wood Thrush

wood thrush

The song of the wood thrush is a melodious, flute-like cascade of ethereal notes. If it sounds like the singer is harmonizing with itself, it's because it is. This species has a divided syrinx (vocal tube) that allows it to create two separate notes simultaneously.

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Wood Thrush

Hylocichla mustelina

At-a-Glance

• Peak Breeding Activity: April-August

• Incubation: 13-14 days

• Clutch Size: 3-4 eggs

• Young Fledge: 12 days after hatching

• Typical Foods: insects, worms, and fruit

Description
This is a typical thrush; brown-backed with spots on a white breast. The rusty-colored head and the abundance of large, black breast spots separate the wood thrush from others of its type.

Habitat and Habits
The wood thrush is a fairly common resident of deciduous woodlands. It can be found in the understory or near the ground in wet woods, where it feeds on insects and berries.

Reproduction and Care of the Young
The three or four greenish-blue eggs are laid in a grass-lined nest of mud and twigs. It is placed low in the fork of a bush or sapling.