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Song or mistle? (1 Viewer)

tarves57

Well-known member
I can't tell the difference from the pictures in my book. Are there any definitive markings that give a positive ID on which type of thrush? This was taken 2 weeks ago in Ross-shire, Scotland. The thrush would sit at the very highest point of a tree and sing very beautifully early in the morning and late in the evening. It seemed to like defying the strong wind too, sitting facing into the wind on the highest brach possible.

Thanks
Susan
 

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Hi Susan,
Your description of singing boldly high up in defiance of the elements is behaviour I associate with Mistle Thrush. However your picture appears to me to be of a Song Thrush esp. as there appears to be a warm orange-buff wash on the breast. Did the song involve obvious repetition of notes? -if so >Song thrush.
 
Steve G said:
Did the song involve obvious repetition of notes? -if so >Song thrush.

Hmm... it was quite a varied song, repetitive in places, but very eloquently executed.....(for want of a better word!). I think I had another photo, I'll try and find it.

Thanks,
Susan
 
Agreed with Song for the pic.

Song Thrushes will also sit on exposed perches to sing. Mistle Thrush song is much less varied, doesn't fit that song description.

The tree is a Lawson's Cypress.

Michael
 
Michael Frankis said:
The tree is a Lawson's Cypress.

Michael

Heavens! That was my next question..... :) No, really, I was about to write "sitting in a fir/pine/? tree" and decided to leave it at "tree", as I realised I had no idea what it was!

I found this picture which is very similar to the first, so it's probably not helpful.

Susan
 

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A feature of Song Thrush that's shown very well in your pictures are the v-shaped marks on the underparts. On Mistle these would be much more rounded.
 
Yes, in Song thrush they allways remind me of little arrowheads, whereas in Mistle thrush they are like oval dots, wider than long.
 
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