Wood Thrush

Overview

The wood thrush (Hylocichla mustelina) is a medium-sized North American passerine bird and the only member of the genus Hylocichla. It is widely distributed across North America, wintering in Central America and southern Mexico, and serves as the official bird of the District of Columbia.

Identification

• Size: Medium-sized, measuring 18 to 21.5 cm in length with a wingspan of 30 to 40 cm.
• Plumage: Cinnamon-brown crown, nape, and upper back; white underparts with large dark brown spots on the breast and flanks.
• Features: White eye rings and pink legs; juveniles possess additional spotting on the back and wings.
• Song: The male produces a three-part song consisting of low-pitched 'bup' notes, a loud 'ee-oh-lay' phrase, and a ventriloquial trill, often cited as one of the most beautiful in North America.

Habitat

Breeding habitats consist of deciduous and mixed forests, specifically favouring late-successional, upland mesic forests with moderately dense shrub layers, running water, and moist ground. The species migrates to lowlands along the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of southern Mexico and Central America, where it prefers environments with high precipitation.

Diet

An omnivore that primarily feeds on soil invertebrates and larvae, though it also consumes fruits, arboreal insects, snails, and small salamanders. It forages on the forest floor by hopping around leaf litter and flipping leaves with its bill to reveal prey.

Did you know?

The wood thrush is the official bird of the District of Columbia. It has also been recorded as a vagrant in Europe, with sightings in Iceland and the Isles of Scilly, England.