A Summer Evening Song

Up on the Gunflint Trail in Minnesota in mid-July, the song of the Swainson’s Thrush is ever present especially during the evening hours.

They are hard to see in the dense forest but their beautiful flutelike song is unmistakable. This thrush breeds in the deep woods of the boreal forest. It also migrates the farthest of the North American thrushes wintering as far south as South America.

Range map provided by Birds of the World

These thrushes are known as “mosquito thrushes” for their ability to catch insects in the air similar to what flycatchers do. Certainly a good skill to have in the boreal land of the Gunflint Trail!