- Turdus viscivorus
Identification
Grey brown back, dark eye in plain face. Spots have an irregular pattern.
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
Song Thrush has browner upperparts and 'arrow-shaped' spots.
Distribution
A common and widespread breeder in the region.
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.
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:
- Western Palearctic (except range of deichleri) to western Siberia
- T. v. deichleri:
- T. v. bonapartei:
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.
Behaviour
Looks 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
- 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.
- Bird Watching
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Mistle Thrush. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 5 May 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Mistle_Thrush
External Links
