Fascinating Fact:
Mistle thrushes are larger and greyer than song thrushes, and they often sit high in trees or on rooftops to sing or watch for danger.
In Specialist Nature, thrushes are a great way to practise identification using sound and shape. Look for warm brown upperparts, pale underparts with dark spots, and a strong, upright stance on the ground. Many thrushes feed by running, pausing, and listening for prey, and some are famous for repeated, clear phrases in their song, which can be as useful as plumage for telling species apart.
Key Terms
- Plumage: The feathers of a bird, including their colours and patterns, which can differ with age and season.
- Territory: An area a bird defends for feeding, nesting, or singing, often by calling from a regular perch.
- Song phrase: A short repeated pattern of notes in a bird’s song, which can help with identification.
Frequently Asked Questions (Click to see answers)
How can I tell a song thrush from a mistle thrush?
A song thrush is usually smaller and warmer brown, with neat, arrow-shaped spots on the chest. A mistle thrush is larger and greyer, with rounder, more scattered spots, and it often looks paler overall when seen in open fields or on lawns.
What do British thrushes eat?
British thrushes eat a mix of invertebrates and fruit. On the ground they take worms, insects and snails, and in autumn and winter many also feed on berries and fallen fruit, which can be important when the weather is cold.
Why do thrushes sing so loudly and repeatedly?
Thrushes sing to attract a mate and to warn other birds away from their territory. Repeating clear phrases helps the song carry further, especially at dawn, and it makes it easier for other thrushes to recognise that the area is already claimed.
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