ID Guide to
british thrushes
(Turdus) Although this is one of the most species-rich genera in the world, including over 60 species, in Britain we only have three resident species and three migratory species.
What is the difference between a thrush and a
mistle thrush
?
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.
Are thrushes common in the UK?
Mistle thrushes are widespread in the UK , but as they prefer areas with big trees and short grass during the breeding season, they’re less likely than song thrushes to nest in
small gardens
.
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.
What is a flock of thrushes called?
thrushes – a mutation of thrushes turkeys – a raffle of turkeys. turkeys – a rafter of turkeys.
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.
What bird makes a noise like a football rattle?
Magpies also have rattling calls – like one of those old football rattles.
Do mistle thrushes eat mistletoe?
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 It is fiercely territorial when it comes to food, guarding its food sources (such as holly bushes or rowan trees) closely, often with two birds defending the same area.
Are thrushes rare in the UK?
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.
How do I attract thrushes to my garden UK?
Low, open platform feeders or ground feeding areas are best to tempt these birds Leaving leaf litter intact gives these birds an easy, familiar place to forage, and in winter when other foods may be scarce, they will try oil-rich seeds such as hulled sunflower seeds.
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 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.
Are thrushes aggressive?
These birds are usually the ones that get bullied by blackbirds and the like. Mistle thrushes on the other hand are much bigger and more aggressive.
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.
Where do UK thrushes go in winter?
These birds winter mainly in southern Spain and the Atlas Mountains of North Africa Migrating Ring Ouzels, many of them from Scandinavia, are frequently seen in Britain well into November, sometimes in company with Redwings and Fieldfares, but are then mostly absent until the first breeders return in late March.
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.
Is a starling 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.
Will a blackbird feed a baby thrush?
Just watched and filmed a male blackbird feeding a song thrush in our garden very amusing to watch.
Why is a thrush called Mavis?
The name Mavis appears in Chaucer and was used by other Middle English poets. It comes from the French word mauvis and may be of Celtic origin It was used by Shakespeare, as was the word throstle for song thrush, which, in East Anglia, refers to the mistle thrush.
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.
How do you attract thrushes to your garden?
Although regularly seen in gardens, Song Thrushes are not easy to attract to feeding stations and won’t, generally, even come onto a bird table or ground tray. However, they will feed direct from the ground and sunflower hearts and suet pellets spread on the lawn may well be taken.
Why are song thrushes in decline in the UK?
Reasons for the decline The decline in song thrush numbers has probably been caused by the loss and degradation of preferred feeding and nesting habitats.
Are thrush birds territorial?
Territory and behaviour Song thrushes establish a breeding territory in the late winter or early spring The territory is essential for pair formation and nesting, but only a part of the food for the young is obtained from within it. Territory size varies depending on the habitat, from 0.2-6 hectares, or even more.
What is a small thrush called?
The smallest thrush may be the forest rock thrush , at 21 g (0.74 oz) and 14.5 cm (5.7 in). However, the shortwings, which have ambiguous alliances with both thrushes and Old World flycatchers, can be even smaller. The lesser shortwing averages 12 cm (4.7 in).
What colour is a female thrush?
Male Varied Thrushes are dark blue-gray on the back and rich burnt-orange below with a sooty-black breastband and orange line over the eye. The wings are blackish with two orange bars and orange edging to the flight feathers. Females have the same patterns, but are paler gray-brown than males.
What bird makes a trilling UK?
Great tit (Parus major).
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.
Do thrushes make good pets?
No, this bird does not make a good pet Thrushes are wild birds, and do not generally enjoy human interaction. In fact, in most places it is illegal for you to own one as a pet.
What is a group of magpies called?
A flock of magpies is referred to as a parliament, tribe, or a mischief Flocks of magpies are also called murders. Have you ever heard of a murder of crows? Magpies and crows are in the same family.
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.
Why is a flock of crows called murders?
One states that crows often will come together and “decide the capital fate of another crow.” Another possible origin comes from people who view the “appearance of crows as an omen of death.” Also, the phrase “murder of crows” comes from a time in history when groups of animals were described in different ways,.
Do birds mate with their siblings?
They are often monogamous, but within certain family groups, as many as 32 percent of individuals may mate with birds other than their mates ; in particular, females may mate with family members in exchange for procuring more food for their young. Originally published in the January 2010 issue of BirdScope.
Can a crow and a magpie mate?
Hybridisation between Carrion Crow and Magpie has not been documented, but hybridisation between the very similar Hooded Crow and Magpie has (www.bird-hybrids.com/references.php) so I’d say it is theoretically possible, but very unlikely.
Do blackbirds fight to the death?
A blackbird will defend its territory, and will fight to the death with another if it’s territory has been invaded In winter he is defending not only his nesting site but also his food supply.
What bird makes a machine gun sound?
But that is not the only amazing thing about them. Shoebills are mostly silent as they wait for their prey, but they produce a strange sound that is not common among birds. During nesting, the adult shoebill makes awesome machine gun noises, Africa Freak reported.
Do female thrushes sing?
Song thrushes live up to their name by singing for much of the year In southern England it is not unusual to hear the first song in early November but singing really begins in earnest in the New Year.
Do thrushes walk or hop?
These birds stand very upright and move forward with purposeful hops when on the ground.
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.
Do thrushes flock together?
They are social birds that are usually seen in groups and flocks.
Which is bigger mistle thrush or song thrush?
Mistle thrush Turdus viscivorus. The mistle thrush can be confused with the common song thrush, but is in fact slightly larger It has a slightly greyer plumage and pale spots on its belly – as opposed to the characteristic streaks of the song thrush.
Are thrushes endangered in the UK?
Song thrush This beautiful songbird is one of the most popular visitors to our garden, but they are indeed in decline In the UK alone we have seen a 50% decline in song thrushes in recent years due to agricultural intensification. Despite this, they are still being considered by many as a species of “least concern!”.
What has happened to all the thrushes?
Their ability to repeat musical phrases make them one of Britain’s most loved garden birds. But the song thrush population has plummeted by 76 per cent in 40 years , the RSPB has revealed. Experts said the tiny birds have been hit by the loss of their hedgerow and woodland habitats.
Sources
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thrush_(bird)
https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/birdwatching/how-to-identify-birds/thrashing-out-the-different-thrushes/
https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/thrush-family/
https://birdfact.com/articles/mistle-thrush-or-song-thrush
https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife-explorer/birds/thrushes-chats-flycatchers-starling-dipper-and-wren/song-thrush