LYCOS RETRIEVER 
Thrush: Wood Thrush
built 289 days ago
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.
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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." Each bird has several different song patterns that are not sung in a fixed sequence, although successive songs are usually different. Females sing patrtial songs during territorial encounters. The common call is a rapid volley of liquid "wit" notes.
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Wood Thrush breeds in the interior as well as the edges of deciduous and mixed forests, often near water. It needs moderate to dense understory, shade, moist soil, and decaying leaf litter. This species will sometimes choose shrubby second-growth forests or even suburban parks in which to nest. The female builds a cup nest similar to an American Robin's nest, and typically lays three to four pale blue eggs. The female is responsible for incubation, which lasts about two weeks, but both parents feed nestlings, which remain in the nest for about two weeks. Breeding pairs may raise two broods of young in a single nesting season.
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The Hermit Thrush breeds in mixed woodlands and moist coniferous forests of Canada, the extreme Northeastern USA and mountainous regions of the western USA. A cup nest of grass, bark strips, mud and weeds is built by the female on or near the ground. From 3 to 6 eggs incubated by the female, hatch in 12 to 13 days. Both parents care for the young who leave the nest in about two weeks.
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Wood Thrush has become a species of conservation concern, and in the process, it has been established as a symbol of the decline of Neotropical songbirds in the forests of eastern North America. This species, along with many others, faces threats on both its North American breeding and Neotropical wintering grounds. Forest fragmentation in North American forests results in increased nest predation and increased cowbird parasitism for Wood Thrushes nesting in fragmented forest, thereby significantly reducing their reproductive success. The continuing destruction of primary forest in Central America eliminates preferred Wood Thrush wintering habitat, most likely forcing birds to attempt to exist in secondary habitats where mortality rates may be higher.
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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.
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Wood Thrush