Mistle Thrush

Turdus viscivorus

Genus · Typical Thrushes Family · Thrushes
Observation tips Difficulty: MODERATE
Best time
🕒 Any
Activity
☀️ Diurnal
Best months
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Observation habitat
Berry bearing treesCanopy foliageFarmland

Look for a large, pale thrush with white corners to its tail. Listen for its harsh, rattling alarm call that sounds like a wooden football rattle.

Mistle Thrush
Stats
Wingspan42–48 cm
Weight95–165 g
Length27–29 cm
Lifespan wild3–14 yrs
Size
XS
S
M
L
XL
Nesting
Nest typeCup
Clutch size3–5 eggs
Incubation12–15 days
Breeding months
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Regional Status (Europe)
LC
Least Concern (Europe)
IUCN Red List
MigrationPartial migratory
Social BehaviourSolitary

Diet: Omnivore

🫐Berries
🍎Fruits
🦗Insects
🐌Snails
🪱Worms

Habitat

🌲 Forest coniferous🌲🌳 Forest mixed🏡 Garden🍎 Orchard🏙️ Urban
✦ Fun Fact

The Mistle Thrush is one of the earliest songbirds to start singing in late winter, often beginning its territorial song when most other birds are still silent.

About

The largest thrush in Europe. It is a pale, grey-brown bird with a very upright, proud posture and a white breast covered in large, round spots. It is a resident species of open woodlands, parks, and large gardens. It is a bold, aggressive bird that will chase away much larger birds, like magpies, from its territory.

Behaviour

The Mistle Thrush often sings its loud, melancholy song from the very top of a tall tree, even during windy and rainy weather. Its song is similar to a Blackbird's but louder, more repetitive, and more far-carrying. In winter, it often fiercely defends a single berry-laden tree, such as mistletoe or holly, from other birds.

Similar species

Song Thrush
🐦
Song Thrush
Turdus philomelos
Fieldfare
🐦
Fieldfare
Turdus pilaris
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