Nests in Trees, Bushes, or Vines 



755. Wood Thrush: Turdus mustelinus Gmel. 



Adult — Upper parts reddish brown or cinnamon, rump and tail 

 less brilliant; under parts white tinged slightly with buff on 

 the breast, and heavily marked with -round black spots. 

 Length — 8.30. 



Breeding Range — Throughout the Eastern States, northward from 

 Virginia and Kentucky, rare north of Massachusetts. 



The nest is bulky, somewhat deeper than the robin's, which 

 it otherwise resembles. It is made of dead leaves (usually beech 

 leaves), used chiefly as the foundation, weed stems, roots, mud, 

 paper, rags, and sometimes snake-skin. It is placed either in a 

 crotch or on a horizontal branch, usually within ten feet of the 

 ground. 3 to 4, rarely 5, eggs are laid ; they are greenish blue, 

 lighter and less green- than those of the catbird. Size — 1.05 x 

 .70. See Fig. 1 1, Plate D. 



Either in the woods, or in the shrubbery near the house, the 

 Wood Thrush builds his nest, damp or dry places being indis- 

 criminately chosen. During the period of incubation, which 

 occupies twelve days, the parent bird sits closely and will allow 

 the onlooker to approch within a few feet of the nest. The ac- 

 companying illustration was taken in the dark woods and an 

 exposure of four seconds was made. So closely did the bird sit 

 that I was able to secure three photographs, changing the plates 

 and setting the shutter each time without disturbing the confid- 

 ing mother, though the lens was not more than four feet from 

 her nest. The young, which leave the nest when ten days old, 

 are intensely nervous little fellows, and are difficult to photo- 

 graph. 



In the neighbourhood of New York the breeding season 

 begins rather before the middle of May. Occasionally two 

 broods are reared. 



756. Wilson's Thrush ; Veery : Turdus fuscescens 



Steph. 



Eggs bluish green. 



See Page 71, Chapter II. 

 169 



