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Difference between revisions of "Mistle Thrush" - BirdForum Opus

(Flight photo. Similar species. Breeding expanded. Reference)
(more details)
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;[[:Category:Turdus|Turdus]] viscivorus
 
;[[:Category:Turdus|Turdus]] viscivorus
 
==Identification==
 
==Identification==
Grey brown back, dark eye in plain face. Spots have an irregular pattern.
+
'''Adult''': Grey brown back, dark eye in plain face. Spots are round, and have an irregular pattern.
 +
'''Juvenile''': Similar to adult, but more 'scaly' in appearance on the upperparts.
  
Most of range covered by nominate ''viscivorus''; North-West [[Africa]], [[Corsica]] and [[Sardinia]] by very similar but slightly paler and greyer ''deichleri''. In general birds become paler and less spotted towards the east of the Region.
 
 
====Similar Species====
 
====Similar Species====
[[Song Thrush]] has browner upperparts and 'arrow-shaped' spots.
+
[[Song Thrush]] is smaller, has warmer brown upperparts, and 'arrow-shaped' spots.
 +
 
 +
Juveniles with their scaly plumage are sometimes mistaken for [[White's Thrush]], but are not so markedly scaly, and lack the bold black underwing stripe shown by White's.
 
==Distribution==
 
==Distribution==
 
[[Image:7407filtered Mistlethrushc111205-.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Photo by {{user|Saphire|Saphire}}<br />[[Staffordshire]]/[[Cheshire]], [[UK]], December 2005]]
 
[[Image:7407filtered Mistlethrushc111205-.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Photo by {{user|Saphire|Saphire}}<br />[[Staffordshire]]/[[Cheshire]], [[UK]], December 2005]]
A common and widespread breeder in the region.
+
A common and widespread species in [[Europe]], western [[Asia]] and northwest [[Africa]].
  
'''Breeds''' in the [[British Isles]], [[France]] and [[Iberia]] east across [[Europe]] to the Urals. Breeds in south-east [[Norway]] and in much of lowland [[Sweden]] and [[Finland]] and in [[Russia]] north to the White Sea. In the south breeds patchily in north Mediterranean countries and on [[Corsica]], [[Sardinia]] and [[Sicily]]. Also breeds parts of [[Turkey]] and the Caucasus, in the Atlas Mountains of North-West [[Africa]] and possibly regularly on [[Madeira]].
+
'''Breeds''' in the [[British Isles]], [[France]] and [[Iberia]] east across [[Europe]] to the Urals. Breeds in south-east [[Norway]] and in much of lowland [[Sweden]] and [[Finland]] and in [[Russia]] north to the White Sea. In the south breeds patchily in north Mediterranean countries and on [[Corsica]], [[Sardinia]] and [[Sicily]]. Also breeds parts of [[Turkey]] and the Caucasus, in the Atlas Mountains of northwest Africa, and possibly regularly on [[Madeira]].
  
 
'''Migratory''' in northern [[Scandinavia]] and from [[Poland]] eastwards, remainder of range varies from sedentary to partial migrant. Most migrants winter within range of more southerly breeders but becomes more widespread around the Mediterranean from September-April.
 
'''Migratory''' in northern [[Scandinavia]] and from [[Poland]] eastwards, remainder of range varies from sedentary to partial migrant. Most migrants winter within range of more southerly breeders but becomes more widespread around the Mediterranean from September-April.
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:*[[Western Palearctic]] (except range of ''deichleri'') to western [[Siberia]]
 
:*[[Western Palearctic]] (except range of ''deichleri'') to western [[Siberia]]
 
*''T. v. deichleri'':
 
*''T. v. deichleri'':
:*Northwest [[Africa]], [[Corsica]] and [[Sardinia]]
+
:*Northwest [[Africa]], [[Corsica]] and [[Sardinia]]. Slightly paler and greyer than the nominate subspecies.
 
*''T. v. bonapartei'':
 
*''T. v. bonapartei'':
:*Eastern [[Siberia]] to central [[Asia]] and the [[Himalayas]]; winters to northern [[India]]
+
:*Eastern [[Siberia]] to central [[Asia]] and the [[Himalayas]]; winters to northern [[India]]. Paler and less spotted.
 +
 
 
==Habitat==
 
==Habitat==
Open woods, parks & gardens. Light woodland and open country, often in parks and large gardens. After breeding commonly moves to areas with abundant supplies of berries, ivy, yew, holly and mistletoe are favoured. Also feeds in open grassland, playing fields and farmland.  
+
Open woods, parks and gardens. Light woodland and open country, often in parks and large gardens. After breeding commonly moves to areas with abundant supplies of berries, ivy, yew, holly and mistletoe are favoured. Also feeds in open grassland, playing fields and farmland.  
 
==Behaviour==
 
==Behaviour==
Looks tall when standing.
+
Bold, and often aggressive; frequently mobs predators like cats and [[Eurasian Magpie|Magpies]], often very successfully, with its harsh rattling call. Will sometimes even attack people who come too close to its nest. Can look 'tall' when standing.
 
====Breeding====
 
====Breeding====
 
The nest is a big, loose, cup of roots, leaves and  moss. It is usually placed high in a tree. The clutch consists of 4 greenish-blue eggs with red marks which are incubated for 15-16 days. The young fledge about 2 weeks later. There may be two broods in the season which runs from late March to July.
 
The nest is a big, loose, cup of roots, leaves and  moss. It is usually placed high in a tree. The clutch consists of 4 greenish-blue eggs with red marks which are incubated for 15-16 days. The young fledge about 2 weeks later. There may be two broods in the season which runs from late March to July.

Revision as of 19:29, 6 December 2014

Photo by Steve Garvie
Turdus viscivorus

Identification

Adult: Grey brown back, dark eye in plain face. Spots are round, and have an irregular pattern. Juvenile: Similar to adult, but more 'scaly' in appearance on the upperparts.

Similar Species

Song Thrush is smaller, has warmer brown upperparts, and 'arrow-shaped' spots.

Juveniles with their scaly plumage are sometimes mistaken for White's Thrush, but are not so markedly scaly, and lack the bold black underwing stripe shown by White's.

Distribution

Photo by Saphire
Staffordshire/Cheshire, UK, December 2005

A common and widespread species in Europe, western Asia and northwest Africa.

Breeds in the British Isles, France and Iberia east across Europe to the Urals. Breeds in south-east Norway and in much of lowland Sweden and Finland and in Russia north to the White Sea. In the south breeds patchily in north Mediterranean countries and on Corsica, Sardinia and Sicily. Also breeds parts of Turkey and the Caucasus, in the Atlas Mountains of northwest Africa, and possibly regularly on Madeira.

Migratory in northern Scandinavia and from Poland eastwards, remainder of range varies from sedentary to partial migrant. Most migrants winter within range of more southerly breeders but becomes more widespread around the Mediterranean from September-April.

Vagrants recorded in Iceland and Faroes, on the Azores and in Egypt, Israel and Kuwait.

Taxonomy

Subspecies[1]

  • T. v. viscivorus:
  • T. v. deichleri:
  • T. v. bonapartei:

Habitat

Open woods, parks and gardens. Light woodland and open country, often in parks and large gardens. After breeding commonly moves to areas with abundant supplies of berries, ivy, yew, holly and mistletoe are favoured. Also feeds in open grassland, playing fields and farmland.

Behaviour

Bold, and often aggressive; frequently mobs predators like cats and Magpies, often very successfully, with its harsh rattling call. Will sometimes even attack people who come too close to its nest. Can look 'tall' when standing.

Breeding

The nest is a big, loose, cup of roots, leaves and moss. It is usually placed high in a tree. The clutch consists of 4 greenish-blue eggs with red marks which are incubated for 15-16 days. The young fledge about 2 weeks later. There may be two broods in the season which runs from late March to July.

Diet

Diet includes worms, fruit, seeds, invertebrates.

Vocalisation

Song: loud, disjointed, not very varied.
Voice: like a football rattle.

<flashmp3>Turdus viscivorus (song).mp3</flashmp3>
Listen in an external program

References

  1. Clements, JF. 2008. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2008. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019.
  2. Bird Watching

Recommended Citation

External Links


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