# Wood Thrush (*Hylocichla mustelina*) The Wood Thrush is a beautiful bird known for its lovely song. It has a brown back and spotted belly, making it look special in the forest. These birds love to hop around on the ground looking for tasty bugs and berries. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 18 - **Habitat:** Forests ![Wood Thrush](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Hylocichla_mustelina_%28cropped%29.jpg&width=800) Photo: Hylocichla mustelina.jpg : Steve Maslowski, US Fish and Wildlife Service derivative work: Papa November ( talk ), Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hylocichla_mustelina_%28cropped%29.jpg) ## Appearance The Wood Thrush has a warm reddish-brown back and head, contrasting with a pure white belly heavily marked with large, distinct dark spots. Its chest also features a spotted pattern, setting it apart from other thrushes with plainer undersides. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Passeriformes - **Family:** Turdidae - **Genus:** Hylocichla ## Interesting facts - Some Wood Thrushes migrate over 2,000 miles to their winter homes in Central America! - Their beautiful song often follows a special pattern called a three-part phrase. - They build neat nests using mud and leaves, camouflaged high in forest trees. - Wood Thrushes love to eat juicy berries, helping to spread plant seeds far and wide! ## Special abilities - **Double-Voice Singer:** Wood Thrush can sing two different notes at the same time using both sides of its syrinx, creating a rich, complex melody. - **Leaf-Litter Navigator:** Wood Thrush has keen eyesight and hearing that helps them locate hidden insects among the forest floor's leaf litter, finding food efficiently. - **Ground Camouflage:** Wood Thrush has earthy brown and spotted plumage that helps them blend perfectly into the dappled light of the forest floor. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 18-21 cm - **Wingspan:** 30-38 cm - **Weight:** 0.045-0.057 kg - **Lifespan:** 2-8 years - **Speed:** 45 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 3-4 - **Incubation:** 12-14 days - **Migration Distance:** 3500 km ## Diet & Feeding These omnivores forage for insects and spiders, complementing their diet with a variety of forest berries. - **Primary Foods:** insects, spiders, beetles, ants, caterpillars, berries - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Parasitizes:** [Brown-headed Cowbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-headed-cowbird) (*Molothrus ater*) — Lays eggs in Wood Thrush nests, burdening parents. - **Hunts:** [Raccoon](https://www.snappit.app/explore/raccoon) (*Procyon lotor*) — Raids nests for eggs and helpless young birds. - **Hunts:** Eastern Screech Owl (*Megascops asio*) — Preys on adult Wood Thrushes, especially at night. - **Eats:** Pin Cherry (*Prunus pensylvanica*) — Consumes its fruit, helping to spread seeds. ## Traits - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Spotted](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spotted): Marked with spots or patches of a different color. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Singing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/singing): Singing animals produce complex vocalizations, often for purposes of attracting mates, defending territory, or communicating within their species. - [Insectivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/insectivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. - [Migratory](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/migratory): Migratory animals undertake seasonal movements from one region to another, typically in response to changes in climate or food availability. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Enjoy watching birds from a distance so you don't scare them away. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Wood Thrush? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Wood Thrush? 18-21 cm ### What is Wood Thrush's wingspan? 30-38 cm ### How much does Wood Thrush weigh? 0.045-0.057 kg ### How long does Wood Thrush live? 2-8 years ### How fast can Wood Thrush move? 45 km/h ### What does Wood Thrush eat? These omnivores forage for insects and spiders, complementing their diet with a variety of forest berries. ### Where is Wood Thrush usually found? Forests ## Where to spot - [Brooklyn Botanic Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/brooklyn-botanic-garden) — New York, US · Botanical Garden - [Cleveland Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cleveland-park) — District of Columbia, US · Neighborhood - [East Greenwich Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/east-greenwich-historic-district) — Rhode Island, US · Historic District - [Forge Road Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/forge-road-historic-district) — Rhode Island, US · Historic District - [Frelinghuysen Arboretum](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/frelinghuysen-arboretum) — New Jersey, US · Botanical Garden - [Great Falls Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/great-falls-park) — Virginia, US · National Park [View all places to see Wood Thrush](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/wood-thrush) ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [Wood Thrush: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/wood-thrush)