Wood Thrush

I reached out to our friend (and Rosslyn wildlife steward), John Davis, this morning help me identify an unfortunate avian friend. This handsome bird must have tried to fly through one of the window panes in the icehouse entrance door, for he lay nearby with no other apparent reason for his demise. John’s response found me already pouring over images online. “So sorry, Geo. Looks to me like young thrush, perhaps Wood Thrush, among our loveliest singers.” From what I can tell, it does indeed look like a Wood Thrush.

Often when a bird crashes into one of our windows, it subsequently recovers. Stunned, the bird will regroup below the window, breathing heavily, heart racing, patiently awaiting the return of clarity.

Recently, Carley and I returned from her morning constitutional to discover a dazed bird, crouching on the threshold. Shaken. Heart racing. But alive.

She approached cautiously, looking at me, looking at the bird, looking at me, looking at the bird,… I was confident that she wouldn’t bother the bird, so I didn’t impede her curiosity. Little by little the bird became confident as well, watching Carley, trusting Carley. These were long, slow minutes. Carley stayed close by, sniffing the bird a little bit, but not touching it. She was curious and attentive. The bird seemed to sense her concern, seemed to be soothed. The bird’s racing heartbeat slowed, and he began to look around. Hopped a little. And flew off. Carley wagged her tail happily.

Not so the wood thrush. Whither the expired wood thrush? Into the woods for nature to reclaim.

What is a Wood Thrush?

The wood thrush (Hylocichla mustelina) is a North American passerine bird in the family Turdidae… It is closely related to other thrushes such as the American robin and is widely distributed across North America, wintering in Central America and southern Mexico…

The wood thrush is a medium-sized thrush, with brown upper parts with mottled brown and white underparts. The male and female are similar in appearance. The song of the male is often cited as being the most beautiful in North America. (Source: Wikipedia)

An even better description from the good bird folks at Cornell Ornithology.

The Wood Thrush’s pot-bellied body, short tail, straight bill, big head, and upright posture give it the profile of a scaled-down American Robin.

[…]

Wood Thrushes are warm reddish-brown above and white with bold black spots on their underparts. Juveniles show a somewhat muted version of the same pattern. All have a bold, white eyering. (Source: Cornell Lab of Ornithology)

And of that lovely wood thrush song?

It sorrows me to say goodbye to any wild creature before it’s time. Especially a singer of songs, a teller of stories, a migratory artist. Hopefully word will spread that these windows are impenetrable, not worth a premature exit!