For an unnarrated version with just the song    • Hermit Thrush Song  

Recluse, shy, drab bird found lurking in the understories of far northern forests during summer months, the Hermit Thrush may not be the most colorful of birds but it's certainly one of the best singers.

June is the month for hearing this angelic tune. As the name Hermit suggests, these birds prefer to be hidden deep within the forest. Thanks to its not so striking coloration this little thrush can easily blend into its surroundings, making it difficult to locate the culprit with the ethereal voice. Without their earcatching, mystical song, it's easy to not be aware of their presence. How sweet the honor it is to spot one in a tree singing.

Their song is described as sounding like, Oh holy, holy, ah purity, purity ehh, sweetly, sweetly. Between each phrase is a pause.

In the third phrase, it sounds as if it is singing two notes at once harmonically. This skill is thanks to the paired valve syrinx in the bird's throat. Each side is independently controlled, allowing for two different notes, one from each half of its syrinx, to be produced at once. They can make rising and falling notes simultaneously, giving that lovely unbelievable song many people love to hear each Spring. This talent of creating such incredible sounds is something that is common with other thrushes, like the American Robin,Veery and Swainson's Thrush. These are tough contenders for the Hermit thrush but they do not produce that Spiritual quality of tone like this renowned songster.Probably the most peaceful time to listen to them is at dawn or dusk when they sing more often.

I’d like to end off with a charming little story from the Mohawk Tradition that gives the legendary origins of the heavenly song of the Hermit Thrush. It is one that is meant to teach children the value of honesty.

Sacred Song of the Hermit Thrush: A Mohawk Story (summarized) by Tehanetorens
Long ago, when the Birds had no songs, only Man could sing. When the Good Spirit walked the Earth, he noticed a great silence. He realized the Birds had no songs. He devised a great game and told the Birds that whichever one could fly the highest would receive a very beautiful song. But not all the Birds were honest. In his desire to win the game, the small Hermit Thrush jumped on the back of the great Eagle. The Eagle flew higher than any of the Birds, but when he came back to land, the Good Spirit said the Hermit Thrush had gone the highest since he was on the Eagle's back. Hermit Thrush was awarded a beautiful song, but in his shame of not being honest, he flew into the deep woods. To this day, you may hear the lovely song of the Hermit Thrush, but you may not ever see him.

Timestamps:
00:00 Intro / What does a Hermit Thrush song sound like
00:14 Where to find a Hermit Thrush
00:29 Hermit Thrush's name
01:22 Hermit Thrush Song
01:38 Hermit Thrush song explained
02:24 Other birds that sound similar to the Hermit Thrush
03:26 Best time to hear a Hermit Thrush
03:48 The effect of the Hermit Thrush song
04:27 How the Hermit Thrush got its song (Legendary Origins)
05:29 My closing thoughts on the Hermit Thrush song

Syrinx picture by TecumsehFitch @1:54
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