Perch Supply
Thrushes (Turdidae)

Wood Thrush

Hylocichla mustelina. Leaf-litter insects and fruit.

Thrushes (Turdidae)Wood ThrushHylocichla mustelina
Scientific name
Hylocichla mustelina
Length
7.5–8.3 in
Weight
1.4–1.8 oz
Nest
Mud-lined cup in understory saplings
Entrance hole
Does not use nest boxes
Clutch
3–4 eggs
Incubation
11–14 days
Broods
1–2 per season

Identification

  • Warm cinnamon-brown above
  • Bold round black spots on a white breast
  • White eye-ring

Voice

Flute-like 'ee-oh-lay' with a trill — one of North America's finest songs.

Diet and feeding

Leaf-litter insects and fruit.

What do wood thrushes eat? · Best feeder for wood thrushes

Wood Thrushs by state and province

RegionStatusNesting
AlabamaSummer breederApril–July
ArkansasSummer breederMay–July
ConnecticutSummer breederMay–July
DelawareSummer breederMay–July
FloridaSummer breederApril–July
GeorgiaSummer breederApril–July
IllinoisSummer breederMay–July
IndianaSummer breederMay–July
IowaSummer breederMay–July
KansasSummer breederMay–July
KentuckySummer breederMay–July
LouisianaSummer breederApril–July
MaineSummer breederJune–July
MarylandSummer breederMay–July
MassachusettsSummer breederMay–July
MichiganSummer breederMay–July
MississippiSummer breederApril–July
MissouriSummer breederMay–July
New HampshireSummer breederJune–July
New JerseySummer breederMay–July
New YorkSummer breederMay–July
North CarolinaSummer breederMay–July
OhioSummer breederMay–July
OklahomaSummer breederMay–July
OntarioSummer breederJune–July
PennsylvaniaSummer breederMay–July
QuebecSummer breederJune–July
Rhode IslandSummer breederMay–July
South CarolinaSummer breederApril–July
TennesseeSummer breederMay–July
TexasSummer breederApril–July
VermontSummer breederJune–July
VirginiaSummer breederMay–July
West VirginiaSummer breederMay–July
WisconsinSummer breederJune–July

Frequently asked

What do wood thrushes eat?

Leaf-litter insects and fruit. At feeders: .

How big is a Wood Thrush?

7.5–8.3 in long and 1.4–1.8 oz.

Do wood thrushes use birdhouses?

No. Mud-lined cup in understory saplings.

Sources

  1. Wood Thrush — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
  2. Wood Thrush life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
  3. Wood Thrush — Audubon Guide to North American Birds

Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.