Mistle thrush
The mistle thrush, scientifically known as Turdus viscivorus, is a bird recognized for its affinity for the berries of the mistletoe plant. Commonly referred to as the "storm cock," it is notable for its distinct singing behavior in adverse weather conditions. This species inhabits a variety of environments including farms, parks, woodlands, gardens, and shrublands across Europe, Asia, and Africa. Mistle thrushes are omnivorous, feeding on a diet that includes earthworms, fruit, insects, and berries, and are often seen foraging in open grasslands.
In terms of physical characteristics, the mistle thrush reaches about 11 inches in length and has a distinctive brown upper body with an off-white underbelly marked by dark specks. Their breeding season extends from mid-February to May or June, during which females lay three to five eggs in high nests made from grass, twigs, and moss. After a 12 to 15-day incubation period, the young thrushes fledge and become independent within four to six weeks. While the mistle thrush faces natural predators like owls and cats, it enjoys a lifespan of up to 21 years and is not considered a threatened species.
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Mistle thrush
The mistle thrush gets its name from its fondness for the berries of the mistletoe bush. The mistle thrush is also called the "storm cock," as it is often seen singing from treetops in even the most inclement, or harsh, weather. They can be found in Europe, Asia, and Africa.
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Turdidae
Genus: Turdus
Species: Viscivorus
The mistle thrush reaches a length of 11 inches (28 centimeters) and a weight of six ounces (167 grams). Its top feathers are brown, and its stomach and chest feathering is a distinct off-white color with dark brown specks. The wings of the mistle thrush are larger than those of its relative the song thrush. The bird has four splayed, or separated, toes which help it to grasp branches.
The mistle thrush is found in a wide range of habitats. It lives on farms, in parks, amongst hedges, in woodland areas, gardens, and shrublands. During the fall, the mistle thrush frequently travels long distances in search of berries. Some mistle thrushes from Scandinavia, the Netherlands, and other parts of Europe, migrate, or move, to Great Britain. Others fly even farther south to find an abundant berry supply.
The mistle thrush is an omnivore, or plant and animal-eating bird. The diet of the mistle thrush is made up of earthworms, fruit, insects, and, of course, berries. It can be seen in the open grassland hopping along the ground, its head cocked slightly to one side as it listens for worms squirming in the soil below. During the colder months, the mistle thrush often leaves the cold, boundless grasslands for the confines of the warmer, city garden. Here, the snow is less deep, and the bird is better able to forage for food.
Towards the end of the winter months, the mistle thrush leaves the flock, or group, of birds. It searches for an area of land, called a territory. This territory acts as the mating and nesting site for the mistle thrush once a suitable mate is located. The breeding season for the mistle thrush is from mid-February to May or June, depending on location. After mating, the female mistle thrush lays three to five eggs in a nest. The nest is placed high in a tree, either cradled in a small fork in the trunk or along the top side of a branch. Her nest consists of grass, twigs, earth, and moss. She finishes it with a soft lining of fine grass. The eggs are incubated for a period of 12 to 15 days. During this time, the female sits on the eggs, allowing her body heat to warm them. After hatching, the young enter a fledgling period, during which time they develop their flight feathers and ready themselves for their first experiences with flying. After four to six weeks, the young birds become independent. Mistle thrush can reproduce when they are one year old.
The song of the mistle thrush is a series of loud, short, flutelike phrases with rather long pauses in between. In flight, the mistle thrush emits, or lets out, a harsh churring. Owls, cats, magpies, squirrels, and sparrowhawks are just some of the animals that prey on the mistle thrush. The life span of the mistle thrush is up to 21 years. They are not a threatened species.
Bibliography
Kürthy, Alexander. “Mistle Thrush - Facts, Diet, Habitat, & Pictures on Animalia.bio.” Animalia, 2024, animalia.bio/mistle-thrush. Accessed 26 Apr. 2024.
Marshall, Tom. “Mistle Thrush.” The Wildlife Trusts, www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife-explorer/birds/thrushes-chats-flycatchers-starling-dipper-and-wren/mistle-thrush. Accessed 26 Apr. 2024.