The main differences between the two birds are that
song thrushes
have a rounder appearance and have lighter breasts with markings that look like upside-down hearts or arrowheads. Mistles thrushes appear lighter and almost grey at first glance.
How common is a mistle thrush?
Status. The mistle thrush has an extensive distribution in Europe and western Asia, and its European breeding population is estimated at 9–22.2 million birds When Asian breeders are added, this gives a global total of 12.2–44.4 million.
Are Mistle Thrushes aggressive?
Key information. The mistle thrush is is a pale, black-spotted thrush – large, aggressive and powerful It stands boldly upright and bounds across the ground. In flight, it has
long wings
and its tail has whitish edges.
How common are Mistle Thrushes UK?
UK Breeding Around 170,000 breeding pairs.
How do I know if I have mistle thrush?
Pale outer edges to tail is a diagnostic feature of Mistle Thrush. Tail colour tends to contrast with the slightly paler rump and lower back. The underwing (‘armpit’) is white. The tips of the wing feathers are edged with white.
Is a thrush a blackbird?
The common blackbird (Turdus merula) is a species of true thrush It is also called the Eurasian blackbird (especially in North America, to distinguish it from the unrelated New World blackbirds), or simply the blackbird where this does not lead to confusion with a similar-looking local species.
What can I feed mistle thrush?
The mistle thrush eats berries, seeds and fruit, as well as worms and insects , and is named after its love of mistletoe berries in particular.
Where does a
thrush nest
?
The nest tends to be well concealed and in locations such as amongst a climbing plant like ivy, against the trunk of a tree with plenty of cover round it, or even in an old building The female Song Thrush builds the nest alone, which consists of grasses, twigs, moss and roots, then lined with mud to form a neat cup.
Where does a mistle thrush nest?
Mistle Thrush nests are large and untidy, sometimes including odd materials such as waste paper and plastic. Many nests are built in late February, with a typical site in woodland being 30ft up on the top of a snapped-off tree Each pair raises two or occasionally three broods and they may sometimes use the same nest.
Are thrush birds rare?
The song thrush used to be a very common bird in the UK. In fact, in the early 20th century it was more abundant than the blackbird However, since the 1940s, blackbirds have flourished, making them a more familiar bird these days. Between 1970 and 2010, the UK song thrush population declined by 54 per cent.
Which is bigger song or mistle thrush?
Mistle thrushes are noticeably larger than song thrushes , with a longer tail. They have pale grey-brown upperparts, and their white underparts are heavily spotted, with the spots on the belly and flanks more rounded in appearance.
Do mistle thrushes sing at night?
They start singing in
late winter
and continue right through into June or July. They’re also one of the earliest birds to start singing in the morning, getting going at around 3am, and then singing again at dusk The song is loud and very clear, but varies from bird to bird.
What is the difference between a Fieldfare and a thrush?
Fieldfare are larger, mistle-thrush sized birds , and are superficially similar to mistle thrush in their general shape and attitude, but again there are distinctive features that make them readily identifiable in most situations.
What bird looks like a large thrush?
Fieldfares are large, colourful thrushes, much like a mistle thrush in general size, shape and behaviour. They stand very upright and move forward with purposeful hops. They are very social birds, spending the winter in flocks of anything from a dozen or two to several hundred strong.
Does mistle thrush migrate?
Mistle Thrush Scandinavian birds are all migratory, wintering mainly between Belgium and northern Spain All this migratory activity passes Britain by almost completely, although tiny numbers of migrants are recorded in autumn and spring, especially near the east coast.
Is a robin a thrush?
robin, either of two species of thrushes (family Turdidae) distinguished by an orange or dull reddish breast. The American robin (Turdus migratorius), a large North American thrush, is one of the most familiar songbirds in the eastern United States.
What is the difference between a thrush and a blackbird?
The song thrush (Turdus philomelos) is closely related to the blackbird, but is slightly smaller and lighter – about 23
centimetres long
and 70 grams in weight. Both sexes have a yellow-brown back and wings, and lighter underside with regular rows of tapered brown spots.
Can a blackbird mate with a thrush?
Interbreeding with a thrush, whilst possible, is most unlikely What you’re describing Derek, is just what I’m used to seeing in the crop of youngsters that visit my garden here. They start of looking very brown, like a female, but speckly. Then their primary feathers and tail go black, followed by the back.
Where do thrush birds live?
The Wood Thrush breeds in deciduous and mixed forests in the eastern U.S. where there are large trees, moderate understory, shade, and abundant leaf litter for foraging. They winter in lowland tropical forests in Central America.
How long do Mistle thrushes live for?
How long do Mistle Thrushes live for? Life expectancy for the mistle thrush is from five to ten years although the species suffers from a higher than average infant mortality rate.
How rare is a song thrush?
Status and conservation The song thrush has an extensive range, estimated at 10 million square kilometres (4 million square miles), and a large population, with an estimated 40 to 71 million individuals in Europe alone.
What bird makes a noise like a football rattle?
Magpies also have rattling calls – like one of those old football rattles.
What does a thrush eat?
Food. Because thrushes eat a wide range of insects, worms, and snails , it is best to minimize or eliminate insecticide use on lawns and landscaping if you hope to attract these birds. This is especially important during spring and summer when large quantities of insects are necessary to feed hungry hatchlings.
Do mistle thrushes sing?
Mistle Thrushes sing from high perches, often at the tops of trees or rooftop aerials, from December to June They often start singing long after the Blackbird and Song Thrush, late morning and afternoon.
What’s the difference between a starling and a thrush?
Starlings are almost thrush-sized, but more upright, on strong legs, with short tails, pointed wings and sharply-pointed bills They are also more social, forming closer, often much larger, flocks and feeding quickly in busy, squabbling groups where food is abundant.
What is a black bird with yellow beak called?
At a distance, starlings look black. In summer they are purplish-green iridescent with yellow beaks; in fresh winter plumage they are brown, covered in brilliant white spots.
What bird is black with a blue head?
Common Grackle Photos and Videos Large, lanky blackbirds with long legs, a long tail, and a long and heavy bill. Adult males appear dark overall, but have an iridescent bluish head and bronzy body in good light.
How can I encourage thrush in my garden?
Encourage the scrub understorey to develop and leave fallen trees as a habitat for deadwood insects Plant small native woodland patches which will provide habitat for song thrushes in areas where this is lacking. Avoid planting trees on land with existing wildlife interest.
Do thrushes eat sunflower seeds?
Birds love to snack on sunflower seed hearts even more than we humans do And for finches, blackbirds, starlings, thrushes, siskins and even robins, the high fat and protein content are just what they need to see them though the winter months.
What do baby thrush eat?
They feed mostly on the ground on earthworms and snails, also insects and berries.
Do wild birds recognize humans?
The magpie is only the third avian species, along with crows and mockingbirds, in which recognition of individual humans has been documented in the wild.
Do thrush birds mate for life?
Wood thrushes are monogamous Breeding pairs form in mid-April to early-May, and usually last throughout the breeding season. Most thrushes find a new mate each year, and mate guarding and extra-pair copulations have not been observed in this species.
What eats a thrush bird?
Thrush Predators and Threats They include snakes, squirrels, raccoons, weasels, chipmunks, mice, and the scourge of songbirds, the pet cat These birds are also preyed upon by other birds, including species of jays, crows, ravens, and birds of prey such as owls and sharp-shinned hawks. Even humans used to eat thrushes.
How long does it take for mistle thrush eggs to hatch?
Breeding takes place between March and August. The thrush builds a nest of moss and grass, lined with mud, in a tree, bush or large hedgerow. In it the female lays 4 to 6 pale blue eggs with black speckles, which she incubates for 11-15 days.
What kind of bird looks like a robin but bigger?
At first glance, the spotted towhee and American robin look remarkably similar. The average spotted towhee measures between 6.7 to 8.3 inches long and sports an 11-inch wingspan. These measurements come in only slightly behind a robin’s, although robins will weigh around twice as much as a spotted towhee.
What bird looks like a robin but smaller?
American Redstart As a warbler, the redstart is smaller than a robin.
Is a thrush a songbird?
Song thrush A familiar and popular garden songbird whose numbers are declining seriously, especially on farmland making it a Red List species.
Sources
https://www.vinehousefarm.co.uk/birds/mistle-thrush
https://birdfact.com/articles/mistle-thrush-or-song-thrush
https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/mistle-thrush/