In yesterday’s post I mention hearing a wood thrush. I mentioned it as if it were part of an ordinary day. But in truth, it wasn’t ordinary at all.

I’ve heard this song a few times before, but only deep in the woods. I’ve never known what bird was singing, but figured it was a shy creature that didn’t like to show itself. Its trilling song has a touch of the fairy tale about it. It makes me imagine I’ll soon happen upon a cottage made of gingerbread.

When I heard the song again on Sunday I tried to find its source. A rustling in the leaf litter drew my eyes to a brown bird with a white breast darting along the length of a decaying tree trunk.

I have no idea why I thought then that it was a wood thrush. I couldn’t get close enough to see the spots on its breast, and I have no app on my phone that identifies its call. Maybe I’d read somewhere of its sweet song and reticent ways.

Whatever the case, when I had time Sunday evening I searched “wood thrush song” on my computer and heard this. It was the same melody that had caught my attention hours earlier. It sounded like the very soul of the forest. And now, through a lucky guess, I could identify it.

(Photo courtesy of the National Zoo)