Wood Thrush —Ross Feldner The Wood Thrush sings beautiful, flute-like liquid notes that inspired Henry David Thoreau to once write, "Whenever a man hears it, it is a new world and a free country, and the gates of heaven are not shut against him." Thrushes have a complicated syrinx (song box) that allows them to sing two notes simultaneously, allowing them to harmonize with their own voice. Deforestation, acid rain, forest fragmentation and Cowbird nest parasitism have taken a toll on these birds, with their numbers dropping almost 60% since 1970. Cowbirds will lay many eggs in their nests and consequently the thrushes end up raising mainly cowbirds, with few young of their own. They are active during the day and forage mostly on forest floors, sifting through leaves with their bills to uncover insects. They mostly feed on beetles, ants, moths, crickets, spiders, worms and snails. | |
