Mistle Thrush
The Mistle Thrush is the largest European thrush species, measuring 11 inches in length with a 18 inches wingspan and being slightly larger than a Blackbird and noticeably larger than the Song Thrush.
The Mistle Thrush has a stocky upright posture when on the ground. It has pale grey-brown upperparts, the chin and throat are greyish-white and the yellowish-buff breast and off-white belly are marked with round black spots. The spotting becomes denser on the lower chest, giving the appearance of a breast-band. The long tail has white tips on the outer feathers and the underwing coverts are white. The eyes are dark brown and the bill is blackish with a yellowish base to the lower mandible. The legs and feet are yellowish-brown. There are no plumage differences between the sexes. Juveniles are similar to adults but they have paler upperparts with creamy centres to many of the feathers and smaller spots on the yellowish underparts. By their first winter they are very similar to adults but the underparts are usually more buff-toned.
The male Mistle Thrush has a loud melodious song with fluted whistles, repeated 3 to 6 times and used to advertise his territory, attract a mate and maintain the pair bond. The tone resembles that of the Song Thrush or Blackbird but compared to its relatives the Mistle Thrush's repertoire is less varied and the delivery is slower. However, the song is much louder and often audible up to 2000 yards away. The song is given from a treetop or other elevated position mainly from November to early June. The male is most vocal in the early morning and its tendency to sing after, and sometimes during, wet and windy weather led to the old name "stormcock".
The Mistle Thrush is quite a terrestrial bird, hopping with its head held up and body erect. When excited, it will flick its wings and tail. The flight consists of undulating bounds interspersed with glides.
The Mistle Thrush breeds in much of Europe and temperate Asia, although it is absent from the treeless far north and its range becomes discontinuous in south east Europe, Turkey and the Middle East. In these warmer southern areas, it tends to be found in the milder uplands and coastal regions. It is a partial migrant with birds from the north and east of the range wintering in the milder areas of Europe and North Africa. Scandinavian and Russian birds start moving south from mid-September onwards, most birds wintering in Europe, west Turkey and the Middle East. Between mid-October and November, large numbers cross the Strait of Gibraltar and others pass through Cyprus but there is hardly any migration across the North Sea. Return migration starts mainly from late March, although it can be a month earlier in the Middle East and northern breeders may not arrive back on their territories until late April or early May. Migration may be by day or night and typically involves individuals or small groups.
The Mistle Thrush is a widespread bird in the UK and can be found almost everywhere except the highest upland areas and the northern and western isles of Scotland. Breeding birds in the UK are resident or move only short distances.
The Mistle Thrush can be found in a wide range of habitats containing trees, including forests, plantations, hedges and town parks. In the south and east of its range, it inhabits upland coniferous woodland and the range extends above the main tree line where dwarf juniper is present.
Breeding occurs at up to 2000 feet in the mountains of north Africa and occasionally much higher up to 5600 feet. In the uplands of Europe, its preferred altitude is from 2600 to 5900 feet. More open habitats, such as agricultural land, moors and grassy hills are extensively used in winter or on migration.
The Mistle Thrush is usually found as an individuals or in a pair for much of the year although families forage together in late summer and groups may merge to form large flocks when food sources are plentiful. It is not uncommon for up to 50 birds to feed together at that time of year. They roost at night in trees or bushes, again typically as individuals or pairs, except in late summer or autumn when families may roost together.
The Mistle Thrush forms monogamous pairs and stay as a pair throughout the year in areas where they are not migratory. Their territories are much larger than those of Blackbirds or Song Thrushes and larger in woodland than in farmland. The male will attack intruders into its breeding territory, including much larger birds such as birds of prey and corvids.
Breeding typically commences in mid-March in the south and west of Europe, late February in the UK but not till early May in Scandinavia. The nest is usually built in a tree in the fork of a branch or against the trunk although hedges, ledges on buildings and cliff faces may also be used. The nest site may be up to 60 feet above the ground although 6 to 30 feet is more typical. The nest is a large cup of sticks, dry grass, roots and moss, coated on the inside with a layer of mud and lined with fine grass and leaves. The nest is built by the female although the male may help.
The female Mistle Thrush typically lays 3 to 5 eggs which are incubated for 12 to 15 days, mainly by the female. The chicks are fed by both parents and fledge about 14 to 16 days after hatching. There are normally 2 broods, the male feeding the fledglings from the first brood while the female sits on the second clutch of eggs. The fledglings are dependent on their parents for 15 to 20 days after leaving the nest.
The Mistle Thrush feeds mainly on invertebrates, fruit and berries. Animal prey include earthworms, insects and other arthropods, slugs and snails. Snails are sometimes smashed on a stone "anvil", a technique also used by the Song Thrush. Plant food includes the fruits and seeds of bushes and trees, mainly holly, yew, ivy and mistletoe but also blackberry, cherry, elder, hawthorn, olive and rose. It may eat the flowers and shoots of grasses and other plants and it will take fallen apples and plums. It forages within its breeding habitat and in open fields, sometimes sharing these feeding areas with other thrush species.
Individuals or pairs will often defend one or more fruit-bearing trees throughout the winter, with preference shown for trees which host mistletoe, the parasitic plant from which the Mistle Thrush derives its name. Where mistletoe is not present, holly is the most common tree chosen.
The Mistle Thrush has an extensive distribution in Europe and western Asia and although the population now appears to be declining, the decrease is not rapid or large enough to trigger conservation vulnerability criteria. Given its high numbers and very large range, the Mistle Thrush is therefore classified by the IUCN as being of Least Concern. The perceived population decline may be due to the loss of invertebrate-rich pastures and mixed farms through conversion to arable agriculture or more intensively managed grassland. Adult survival, clutch size and fledging success are all lower in arable landscapes than in areas with extensive pasture.
Date: 31st January 2023
Location: Holkham, Norfolk
The Mistle Thrush has a stocky upright posture when on the ground. It has pale grey-brown upperparts, the chin and throat are greyish-white and the yellowish-buff breast and off-white belly are marked with round black spots. The spotting becomes denser on the lower chest, giving the appearance of a breast-band. The long tail has white tips on the outer feathers and the underwing coverts are white. The eyes are dark brown and the bill is blackish with a yellowish base to the lower mandible. The legs and feet are yellowish-brown. There are no plumage differences between the sexes. Juveniles are similar to adults but they have paler upperparts with creamy centres to many of the feathers and smaller spots on the yellowish underparts. By their first winter they are very similar to adults but the underparts are usually more buff-toned.
The male Mistle Thrush has a loud melodious song with fluted whistles, repeated 3 to 6 times and used to advertise his territory, attract a mate and maintain the pair bond. The tone resembles that of the Song Thrush or Blackbird but compared to its relatives the Mistle Thrush's repertoire is less varied and the delivery is slower. However, the song is much louder and often audible up to 2000 yards away. The song is given from a treetop or other elevated position mainly from November to early June. The male is most vocal in the early morning and its tendency to sing after, and sometimes during, wet and windy weather led to the old name "stormcock".
The Mistle Thrush is quite a terrestrial bird, hopping with its head held up and body erect. When excited, it will flick its wings and tail. The flight consists of undulating bounds interspersed with glides.
The Mistle Thrush breeds in much of Europe and temperate Asia, although it is absent from the treeless far north and its range becomes discontinuous in south east Europe, Turkey and the Middle East. In these warmer southern areas, it tends to be found in the milder uplands and coastal regions. It is a partial migrant with birds from the north and east of the range wintering in the milder areas of Europe and North Africa. Scandinavian and Russian birds start moving south from mid-September onwards, most birds wintering in Europe, west Turkey and the Middle East. Between mid-October and November, large numbers cross the Strait of Gibraltar and others pass through Cyprus but there is hardly any migration across the North Sea. Return migration starts mainly from late March, although it can be a month earlier in the Middle East and northern breeders may not arrive back on their territories until late April or early May. Migration may be by day or night and typically involves individuals or small groups.
The Mistle Thrush is a widespread bird in the UK and can be found almost everywhere except the highest upland areas and the northern and western isles of Scotland. Breeding birds in the UK are resident or move only short distances.
The Mistle Thrush can be found in a wide range of habitats containing trees, including forests, plantations, hedges and town parks. In the south and east of its range, it inhabits upland coniferous woodland and the range extends above the main tree line where dwarf juniper is present.
Breeding occurs at up to 2000 feet in the mountains of north Africa and occasionally much higher up to 5600 feet. In the uplands of Europe, its preferred altitude is from 2600 to 5900 feet. More open habitats, such as agricultural land, moors and grassy hills are extensively used in winter or on migration.
The Mistle Thrush is usually found as an individuals or in a pair for much of the year although families forage together in late summer and groups may merge to form large flocks when food sources are plentiful. It is not uncommon for up to 50 birds to feed together at that time of year. They roost at night in trees or bushes, again typically as individuals or pairs, except in late summer or autumn when families may roost together.
The Mistle Thrush forms monogamous pairs and stay as a pair throughout the year in areas where they are not migratory. Their territories are much larger than those of Blackbirds or Song Thrushes and larger in woodland than in farmland. The male will attack intruders into its breeding territory, including much larger birds such as birds of prey and corvids.
Breeding typically commences in mid-March in the south and west of Europe, late February in the UK but not till early May in Scandinavia. The nest is usually built in a tree in the fork of a branch or against the trunk although hedges, ledges on buildings and cliff faces may also be used. The nest site may be up to 60 feet above the ground although 6 to 30 feet is more typical. The nest is a large cup of sticks, dry grass, roots and moss, coated on the inside with a layer of mud and lined with fine grass and leaves. The nest is built by the female although the male may help.
The female Mistle Thrush typically lays 3 to 5 eggs which are incubated for 12 to 15 days, mainly by the female. The chicks are fed by both parents and fledge about 14 to 16 days after hatching. There are normally 2 broods, the male feeding the fledglings from the first brood while the female sits on the second clutch of eggs. The fledglings are dependent on their parents for 15 to 20 days after leaving the nest.
The Mistle Thrush feeds mainly on invertebrates, fruit and berries. Animal prey include earthworms, insects and other arthropods, slugs and snails. Snails are sometimes smashed on a stone "anvil", a technique also used by the Song Thrush. Plant food includes the fruits and seeds of bushes and trees, mainly holly, yew, ivy and mistletoe but also blackberry, cherry, elder, hawthorn, olive and rose. It may eat the flowers and shoots of grasses and other plants and it will take fallen apples and plums. It forages within its breeding habitat and in open fields, sometimes sharing these feeding areas with other thrush species.
Individuals or pairs will often defend one or more fruit-bearing trees throughout the winter, with preference shown for trees which host mistletoe, the parasitic plant from which the Mistle Thrush derives its name. Where mistletoe is not present, holly is the most common tree chosen.
The Mistle Thrush has an extensive distribution in Europe and western Asia and although the population now appears to be declining, the decrease is not rapid or large enough to trigger conservation vulnerability criteria. Given its high numbers and very large range, the Mistle Thrush is therefore classified by the IUCN as being of Least Concern. The perceived population decline may be due to the loss of invertebrate-rich pastures and mixed farms through conversion to arable agriculture or more intensively managed grassland. Adult survival, clutch size and fledging success are all lower in arable landscapes than in areas with extensive pasture.
Date: 31st January 2023
Location: Holkham, Norfolk
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Also in: Thrushes
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