The Veery or Wilson's Thrush is slightly smaller than the wood thrush
(7½ inches), and is a _lighter and more uniform brown above_. It has a
whitish throat and belly, and _grayish sides_. The breast and sides of
the throat are a soft buff, with faint spots of brown. Its light brown
upper parts and its less conspicuous markings distinguish the veery from
other thrushes.
Note: Its call-note is a whistled _whee'-u_,--loud, clear, and uttered
frequently.
Song: The song is inexpressibly beautiful,--like organ-chords, or those
that fill the Baptistery of Pisa when the Italian guide blends tones
for the delight of listeners. A veery's song cannot be described;
the _whee'-u_ may reveal the singer's whereabouts, and aid in
identification. This bird has brought me pleasure many times, for it
forms one of the chorus that sing their matin- and even-songs in a
spruce grove across the road from our cottage in Maine. Still other
veeries chant with hermit thrushes in more distant woods.
It recalls, also, memories of deep Adirondack woods near Seventh
Lake, where we heard veeries and wood thrushes sing antiphonally at
sunset.
Range: This thrush is abundant in the eastern United States during its
migration, while on the way to its nesting place in our Northern
States, to New England, and Canada. It winters in South America.
It seems to bear a charmed life. It does no harm and receives none;
it is a favorite wherever its voice is heard.