Mistle Thrush

Aha! So this is what was hopping around my cotoneaster! So pretty and as you say, shy and quickly away!

Are you sure it's a mistle, not a song thrush J? It's gorgeous, a lovely photo!

Good capture Julia. I was reading just a few minutes ago about how the Mistle Thrush population is declining, so I hope you're right!

I have two of these feeding this year too,and they were glad of the Pyracantha berries..I thought they were Mistle Thrushes as well..such beautiful birds,whichever they are ..:o)

I am no expert at all, and it may well be a Mistle, but I did think they were bigger and has darker, more contrasting speckles than this......let me know what you discover!

Lovely photo, but I think it's a Song Thrush too. We have one visiting the garden regularly and I've been peering through the binoculars (dread to think what the neighbours think I'm doing!) to get a good sighting. The Mistle Thrush:
is bigger and deeper chested than the Song Thrush, with longer wings and tail; greyer, with paler rump, and whitish tail corners. White underwings (can you tell I'm quoting from a Guide to birds book!) Hope it visits your garden for many weeks to come ... :o) Just adding a photo from the bird book ... hope this helps with an I.D.

I've confused myself even more after viewing images of them both on bird sites! I have asked for an I.D. on GoYs sister site, Ispyabird as somebody there is bound to be more knowledgeable than I !!

John tells me it is a song thrush because of the markings on its breast and it is less upright than a mistle thrush. Hope this helps!

I have just looked at your pics Shirley,thank you ..and I'm still not sure what mine are.although they look bigger than this one.and more pronounced bigger and darker brown markings on their chests too..,and thank John for his help too,Chris...it will be interesting to get more info..shame they haven't much to sing about at the moment..it might be easier to tell :o)

Ok ... are you all ready? Positive I.D. from an Ispyabird member is Song Thrush. I hope it comes in the garden when I do the Birdwatch ... fingers crossed it does.

Well at least you have identified yours now,Julia..I shall go out tomorrow and ask mine what they are ! No name ,no food..simples ! Lol.

I often get songthrushes here, but rarely see a Mistle Thrush. I used to have one, it came every October and ate all the Sorbus berries ravnously. Sadly I haven't seen it for a couple of years and wonder if it might have died. It is much bigger than the song thrush and looks a lot more spotty...darker more contrasting spots and it is more upright...taller if you like, and it just looks more 'aggressive' somehow...a 'harder' looking customer, but it is really impressive...I miss it!

Good point Julia.! They are so quick,I can't even catch them on camera..at least you have done a lot better than me :o)

From your description,Karen..it does sound more like the ones I have...I never saw mine at all last year,so wonder if they are the same..or their offspring? ..but they definitely seem bigger than the Song Thrush and the markings are as you describe..

Bloomer, yours sounds like a mistle thrush - are you close to open fields coz that is where they are usually found.........so J tells me!!

I was listening to a programme the other day about the decline of mistle thrushes now. So if any of you see one, you are really lucky! I've never seen one in our garden. We get the occasional song thrush though, but they never stay still long enough to take a photo! Well done you!

Thanks Chris,and to John too..I will do my best to try and take a photo...that should decide...if it stays still long enough ! :o)..They are quite timid ,and off at the slightest movement ....