Wood Thrush

The Wood Thrush, Hylocichla mustelina, is a North American passerine bird. It is closely related to other thrushes such as the American Robin and is widely distributed across North America, wintering in Central America and southern Mexico. The Wood Thrush is the official bird of the District of Columbia.

The Wood Thrush is classified as Least Concern. Does not qualify for a more at risk category. Widespread and abundant taxa are included in this category.

One of our most beautiful songsters, the Wood Thrush breeds in the deciduous forests of eastern North America, where its flute-like melodies can be heard at dawn and dusk. This species has shown a significant decline across its breeding range since the mid-1960s, and it faces continuing degradation and destruction of its forest habitat on both its North American breeding grounds and Central American wintering grounds. More

The Wood Thrush, Hylocichla mustelina, is a North American passerine bird. It is closely related to other thrushes such as the American Robin and is widely distributed across North America, wintering in Central America and southern Mexico. The Wood Thrush is the official bird of the District of Columbia. The Wood Thrush is a medium-sized thrush, with brown upper parts with mottled brown and white underparts. The male and female are similar in appearance. More

The flutelike song of the Wood Thrush is a familiar sound to birders in the eastern United States. It is often heard at dawn and dusk, and has special qualities that set it apart from the sounds of most other songbirds. The Wood Thrush seems to often be the "poster child" of declining migratory birds, with decreasing population levels over much of its range. More

the wood thrush, in the quiet woods of early morning or in the twilight, has missed a rare treat. The woods seems to have been transformed into a cathedral where peace and serenity abide. One's spirit seems truly to have been lifted by this experience. These birds are found in low, cool, damp forests, often near streams. This probably follows because of the need of mud and damp plant material, which are used in the construction of the nest. More

Perhaps the most famous reference to the Wood Thrush's song is this quotation from the writings of Henry David Thoreau, “The thrush alone declares the immortal wealth and vigor that is in the forest. Here is a bird in whose strain the story is told…Whenever a man hears it he is young, and Nature is in her spring; whenever he hears it, it is a new world and a free country, and the gates of heaven are not shut against him. More

Wood Thrush Books is a small press specializing in uncommon nature writing - introspective work that explores the largely uncharted territory beyond Emerson and Thoreau. Established in 1985, this press was originally an outlet for poets living in northern Vermont and other parts of the Northeast. Now it focuses on essays and non-fiction narratives about humanity and the wild. More

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. More

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 is solitary, but sometimes form mixed-species flocks. The Wood Thrush defends a territory that ranges in size from 800 to 28000 square meters. More

Wood ThrushThe Wood Thrush, Hylocichla mustelina, is a North American passerine bird, the only member of the genus Hylocichla. It is widely distributed across North America, wintering in Mexico and Central America. It is closely related to the typical American thrushes of the genus Catharus. It is sometimes merged into Catharus and was considered close to the long-distance migrant species of that genus, as opposed to the generally resident nightingale-thrushes, but this has been shown to be erroneous. More

Wood Thrush nest in Fernbank Forest The Wood Thrush (Hylocichla mustela) is the only member of the genus Hylocichla. The generic name is a direct translation of its common name, derived from the Greek words hylel "woodland" and cichlel "thrush." The specific name comes from the Latin mustela meaning "weasel." The Wood Thrush is a favorite among bird watchers mainly due to its beautiful song (listen here). More

Wood Thrush Habitat Model go to: USFWS Gulf of Maine Watershed Habitat Analysis go to: Species Table Feedback: We welcome your suggestions on improving this model! Draft Date: February, 2001 Species: Wood thrush, Hylocichla mustelina Use of Study Area Resources: Reproduction, throughout study area. The wood thrush breeds from northern Gulf of Mexico to southeastern Canada and winters in southern Mexico through Panama. More

Threats: The Wood Thrush populations are declining at a rate of 1.7 percent per year over much of its range, among the fastest rates of decline of any songbird in the U.S. A number of causes have been suggested, including habitat loss in its winter range and forest fragmentation in its breeding range. More

the wood thrush rang his silver bell. John Greenleaf Whittier Wood Thrush (RealAudio sample; click here to download RealPlayer) An common inhabitant of eastern deciduous forest, the Wood Thrush has a beautiful, flutelike song. It begins with one to several soft "tut" notes which lead into variable melodic phrases that usually terminate with a high, buzzy trill. Common song patterns sound like "tutut-eee-o-lay-o-eeee" or "tutut-eee-ay-eee. More

The Wood Thrush inhabits a wide variety of deciduous and mixed forests throughout eastern North America. This thrush ranges during the breeding season from southern Quebec and Ontario to northern Minnesota and Michigan, and south to northern Florida, the Gulf Coast, and southeastern Texas. Features of good Wood Thrush habitat typically include tall trees providing shade, a shrub subcanopy layer, and a fairly open forest floor with leaf litter. More

Wood Thrush Nesting Success in an Urban Forest Fragment Annual summaries Introduction Methods Results * Nesting success * Cowbird parasitism * Preferred tree species for nest * Site fidelity Discussion Introduction The Wood Thrush (Hylocichla mustelina) is a Neotropical migrant whose populations have been declining over the last More

nesting success for wood thrushes: (1) total core habitat within 5 km of a study site, (2) distance to forest–field edge, (3) total forest cover within 5 km of the study site, and (4) density and variation in diameter of trees and shrubs surrounding the nest. The coefficients of these predictors were all positive. Of the 9 models evaluated, amount of core habitat in the 5-km landscape was the best-fit model, but the vegetation structure model (i.e. More

Wood Thrush Ridge is overnight lodging for birders and nature lovers, and sits atop 40 acres of secluded Tennessee woodland. Beautiful trees and breathtaking views create a tranquil setting for a relaxing escape into nature. There is a ridge-top orchard, stream-side walking trails, meadow paths, and a 9-acre private lake to add to the outdoor therapy that Wood Thrush Ridge has to offer. Inside, the guest rooms are designed for the naturalist and ensure cozy comfort. More