Dependent fledglings give a flat chip or tsip at intervals. Drawing by J. Zickefoose. In forest fragments, in some parts of range, e.g., Midwest, cowbird parasitism reduces the number of Wood Thrush fledged. Second-level calls are about five notes, louder and higher in frequency than first level, expressed as pit, pip, or whit. May escalate to even higher frequency and faster delivery.
Early males sing briefly near dawn and dusk within few days after arrival on breeding grounds.
Daily pattern of vocalizing. Places of vocalizing. Sings predominantly from leafless limbs, often high in trees in early season and at dusk. Sometimes sings from ground while feeding, in flight during agonistic encounters, and near or on the nest rim. Male's repertoire based on number of variants he has of each of the three phrases and the resultant combinations of those variants used to make three-part song.