The wood thrush is a medium-sized songbird found in the eastern United States. It is known for its beautiful, flute-like song which has earned it the nickname “forest nightingale”. In Washington D.C., the wood thrush can be found breeding in forest fragments and parks from April through October.
What does the wood thrush look like?
The wood thrush is about 8 inches in length and has a wingspan of about 12 inches. Adults have brown upperparts with white underparts and black spots on the breast and sides. They have a white eye ring and reddish-brown head. Males and females look similar. Juveniles have spots on the breast and are paler overall until they molt into adult plumage.
Where is the wood thrush found in the Washington D.C. area?
In the D.C. area, wood thrushes breed in forest fragments in Rock Creek Park, the National Arboretum, and Anacostia Park. They can also be found along the Potomac River in forests along the C&O Canal and in woodlots in suburban neighborhoods. Some key spots to look for them include:
- Rock Creek Park – especially near Pierce Mill and around Soapstone Valley
- National Arboretum – the forests near the National Bonsai Museum
- Anacostia Park
- Potomac River shoreline
- Woodlots in Bethesda, Silver Spring, McLean, Arlington
During migration, wood thrushes pass through green spaces throughout the metropolitan area.
When can you see the wood thrush in Washington D.C.?
In D.C., wood thrushes arrive in mid-April to establish breeding territories and build nests. The breeding season lasts through August. Peak egg laying and chick rearing occurs May through July. By late September, most wood thrushes have migrated back to Central America and the D.C. area is mostly vacant of them until next April.
Here is the typical phenology, or timing of natural events, for the wood thrush in Washington D.C.:
- Mid-April: Arrival of males, establishment of territories
- Late April: Females arrive approximately a week after males
- May-June: Nest building, egg laying, incubation
- June-July: Chicks hatch, rearing of young
- August: Second clutches may be laid
- September-Early October: Fall migration back to Central America
The best months to see and hear singing wood thrushes in D.C. are May through early July. However, they can be secretive on the nest, so a quiet approach is necessary during breeding season.
What does the wood thrush song sound like?
The song of the wood thrush is a beautiful, flute-like melody often described as ethereal or haunting. It consists of paired phrases that sound like “ee-oh-lay.” The first note is loud and ringing, followed by a softer, lower pitched ending. The two phrases together last about 5 seconds.
Wood thrush songs carry through the forest and have been known to be audible from over 0.6 miles away in ideal conditions. Males sing to defend territories and attract mates. Songs occur most frequently early in the morning and at dusk, but can be heard sporadically all day long during the breeding season.
Here is a recording of the magical wood thrush song:
What kind of habitat does the wood thrush need?
The wood thrush prefers mature, deciduous woodlands with a closed canopy and dense understory. They are often associated with streams, moist woods, and slopes.
Critical habitat features include:
- Presence of tall, deciduous trees – especially oak, maple, hickory, poplar, elm
- Closed canopy cover
- Leaf litter and moist soil for foraging
- Dense shrub layer and understory vegetation
- Downed woody debris for nesting sites and bug foraging
In the D.C. area, wood thrushes make use of forest fragments of at least 25 acres in size. Stream buffers, parks with mature trees, and wooded suburban areas provide the necessary habitat.
What does the wood thrush eat?
Wood thrushes are omnivores that eat a wide variety of insects and fruit. Their diet consists of:
- Insects: beetles, caterpillars, ants, flies, crickets, moths, spiders
- Fruit: wild berries, dogwood, serviceberry, grape, elderberry, blackberry
- Seeds
- Millipedes
- Salamanders
- Snails
They forage by rummaging through leaf litter on the forest floor and picking insects off of tree trunks and branches. Wood thrushes play an important role controlling insect pests in the forest ecosystem.
How do wood thrushes build nests and raise young?
Wood thrushes build nests on horizontal branches, tree forks, or saplings 5-15 feet above ground. Nests are cup shaped and composed of mud, moist leaves, grass, pine needles, and bark strips. They are lined with fine grasses and rootlets.
Females lay 3-5 pale blue eggs which she incubates for 12-14 days while the male defends the territory and brings her food. The altricial chicks hatch over 2-3 days and fledge the nest 11-13 days after hatching. Parents feed the chicks insects and fruit.
Wood thrushes may raise 2-3 broods per breeding season. Nests are frequently parasitized by brown-headed cowbirds.
What threats face the wood thrush?
The wood thrush population has declined by over 60% since the 1960s due to a number of threats on its breeding and wintering grounds:
- Habitat loss from forest fragmentation
- Increased nest parasitism from brown-headed cowbirds
- Predation from cats, raccoons, snakes, blue jays
- Climate change drying up wintering habitat
- Pesticides reducing insect food sources
Conservation measures to help the wood thrush include protecting mature forest tracts, reconnecting fragmented habitats, reducing edge habitat, and planting native trees and shrubs. Homeowners can help by keeping cats indoors, reducing pesticide use, and planting native plants.
Fun Facts about the Wood Thrush
- Wood thrush songs have been known to reach decibel levels over 90 dB, as loud as a lawnmower!
- Their Latin name Hylocichla mustelina means “forest nightingale”.
- Wood thrushes have antifreeze in their blood to survive cold nights while migrating.
- They can eat up to 250% of their body weight in insects each day while raising chicks.
- Young wood thrushes may return to the exact spot where they were born to breed when mature.
Conclusion
The ethereal, flute-like song of the wood thrush is an iconic sound of eastern forests in summer. These shy, spotted songbirds rely on mature deciduous forests to breed and raise their young. While they face threats from habitat loss and nest predation, proper forest management and cat control can help provide habitat for the next generation of these musical forest nightingales. When taking a summer walk in the woods around Washington D.C., listen for the haunting melody of the wood thrush!
