Swainson’s Thrush
This morning while I was sitting on my back porch looking into the forest I was stressing over the many things I had to get done today professionally and personally, and already experiencing some anxiety about tonight’s Predator-Canucks game. The birds were very vocal as they are this time of year and suddenly my brain locked in on a different and beautiful song. I was hearing the Wood Thrush and its incredible vocalizations but this other one is also quite unique. I was hearing the Swainson’s Thrush, a spring migrant passing through TN heading northward to its breeding range in the upper northern region of the U.S. and into Canada.
This bird is heard way more than it’s seen because it prefers heavily wooded habitat. It has an upward spiraling flutelike song that varies in volume. They are known to move to another branch in between songs and vary their volume so one might think the bird has flown much farther away but in actuality gotten closer. It is similar to ventriloquism. When in their breeding range males will have singing duels in which volume and frequency escalates. Sometimes physical attacks and chasing may occur. I have heard Wood Thrush do the same thing and it is unforgettable.
These birds are insect and fruit eaters and stay in the trees except for the occasion to pounce on an insect on the forest floor.
The unique and memorable song of the Swainson’s Thrush immediately takes my mind to the Adirondack mountains in NY state where my family spent summer vacations. The pine forest around the little lake was loaded with them. Thanks to the Swainson’s Thrush the stress melted away and I just listened until I had to leave for the day. To hear this bird either open your Merlin app, or go to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology site allaboutbirds.org to hear the various vocalizations of this unique songster.