The Syrinx

I'm into the rock band "Rush" - and during the tune "2112" Neil Peart, the bands percussionist and song writer, talks about the Temple of Syrinx - not sure why he came up with this name but I'm guessing he knows about the Y-shaped voice box of the wood thrush (Hylocichla mustelina) - the syrinx. This specialized structure is able to reverberate pairs of notes simultaneously. Hearing its "Ee-oh-lay" song alone in a forest for the first time could make even the staunchest lumber jack turn in his chainsaw for a pair of binoculars. The harmonics of sound that come from this thrush's throat produce a dulcet mellifluence not soon forgotten.

See: Wood Thrush singing - YouTube

I took this image recently deep within a hemlock ravine in Stokes State Forest, NJ. It was countersigning with other males - it was just a matter of getting into the center of the magic circle of song and waiting.

I see and hear them less and less as years pass - I apologize for this news as up to a 60% decline in this species has been recorded since 1970. Want to help. Buy shade-grown coffee and try to protect your patch of forest from deer browse to build back a healthy native shrub layer - this will help wood thrush and other interior forest nesting birds.

More info: Wood Thrush - American Bird Conservancy (abcbirds.org)