Comox Valley Naturalists Society

June, 2004
Frank Hovenden

On the outskirts of our towns or in large parks and older neighbourhoods is found the Swainson’s thrush. This thrush has perhaps one of the most beautiful sounds to fill the local air. It arrives in the late spring, after wintering in Central America. It has a rising flute-like series of notes, usually heard in the morning and evening. This bird with its brown-spotted breast is very shy and is seldom seen, however its melodic song is more than adequate to let you know it has arrived in the neighbourhood.

Once we leave our suburban enclaves and head into the surrounding forest, the robin is replaced by its country cousin, the varied thrush, sometimes locally called the swamp robin. It resembles a thin and shy robin with a black bar across its red breast and through its eye. The song of the varied thrush is single long protracted whistle like an old-time train. Its tone has been described as in a minor chord. It is easily identified as a feature of spring in our coastal forests. A particularly heavy snowfall will often drive the varied thrush into our towns and even down to the seashore to forage.

Still in the woods but higher up the mountain we find the hermit thrush. In fact this bird can be heard singing right up into the sub-alpine habitat of our mountains. This is one of our most beautiful singers. Its song sounds like a combination of the varied thrush and Swainson’s thrush. It starts with a single note followed by a flute-like melody. Unlike some of its cousins the hermit thrush does not migrate from the coast. However it does leave the upper parts of the mountains for the low elevation forests to pass the winter away from the deep snows.

There is a certain satisfaction to be attained by learning the songs of birds. Like learning to speak a new language, it broadens ones perspectives and gives us a closer connection to the natural world that we share with these creatures.

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