Wood Thrush - Attracting to a Backyard Habitat

Identification
The Wood Thrush's musical "Ee-oh-lay" song tells visitors of its presence; such species is more effortless to hear than view. Sexes are similar in this robin sized bird. Distinguishable characteristics include a warmed auburn color of the top and nape fading to olive-brown upon the back as well as wings, white underside, as well as a obvious, dark patches upon the throat, breast, as well as sides. Wood Thrushes in addition to this have pinkish legs and a white eye circle.

Wood Thrush breeds over the majority of eastern North America, running from the panhandle of Florida north to southerly Canada. The species normally extends to its western boundary in the eastern border of the Great Plains, even though it may be encountered breeding on the Missouri River through middle South Dakota. Over Wood Thrush's full range, Breeding Bird Survey information between 1966 to 1994 display a decline of 1.7% annually. At a single point along the bird's wintering habitat in Veracruz, Mexico, population of Wood Thrush during 1985 were calculated to be merely 30% of the species' abundance at that place in 1960.

Wood Thrush breeds throughout the inside in addition to the borders of deciduous and mixed woodlands, frequently close to water. They require moderate to compact understory, shade, damp soil, and decomposing leaf litter. This species can occasionally select shrubby second growth woods or even suburban greens in which to breed.

They forage principally on the ground, consuming a broad assortment of invertebrates which includes beetles, ants, moths and caterpillars. Wood thrushes as well feed on fruits and berries. They sets out leaving from their breeding area in late August and finishes migration to their Central American wintering grounds through late October. The species migrates chiefly during the night, and may be discovered and censused by its identifying nighttime flight call.

Threats
Wood Thrush is a bird of preservation concern, and in the process, it's become a symbol of the declination of songbirds in the woodlands of eastern North America. This species, along with several others, finds threats on both their North American breeding and wintering lands. Forest fragmentation in North American woodlands results in expanded nest predation as well as increased cowbird parasitism, thus significantly cutting down their breeding success. The further demolition of primary forest in Central America wipes out favored Wood Thrush wintering grounds, probably driving birds to seek to survive in secondary forests where mortality rates might be greater.

- Create thickets, and hedgerows, densely planted trees or shrubs used to create a protective barrier for wood thrushes to nest in. See Fletcher Wildlife Garden for more information on wildlife hedgerows.

Plant native berry producing shrubs for food. Birds will eat native berries before they eat imported plant types.

Provide water. Wood thrushes like water, so large and small bird baths places around a property attracts them.

Leave some leaf litter under shrubs or wood edges. Wood thrushes forage for bugs in leaf litter.