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Song or mistle thrush (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Roger S.
- Start date
David FG
The Big Dipper
Roger S. said:
Mistle Thrushes are appreciably bigger, and instead of the Song Thrushes warm brown colouring they look grey. Also the spots on the breast are bigger and coarser looking. The Mistle also has white underwings. Songs and calls are also different, but I won't even try to describe them!
Hope that is some help.
Ghostly Vision
Well-known member
Hi Roger,
A number of things that to me are indicators, but that the fieldguides don't portray, would be:
1. Song tends to be more secretive, feeding under hedges or trees, whereas Mistle are much bolder, strutting around on open grass
2. Mistle stands in a more "cocky" way, breast out, head up, whereas Song seems to often have its head down, furtling around turning leaves over, etc
3. On general shape, Mistle seems large-bodied with a small head, whilst Song always looks better-proportioned, with a smaller rounder body and larger head
4. As David says, song always looks brown, almost golden brown on the upperparts, whereas Mistle looks grey-brown.
5. In flight, Mistle shows white corners to the tail as well as the striking white underwings
6. Call: Mistle does a loud rattle, often as it flies, unlike Song's quiet psssiip
7.The breast spots on Song are more teardrop shaped, on Mistle, flatter and wider.
8. There is more of a golden wash on the breast and flanks, whilst Mistle has a very white-looking breast
These are just a few from memory - hope they are of use
All the best
Sean
A number of things that to me are indicators, but that the fieldguides don't portray, would be:
1. Song tends to be more secretive, feeding under hedges or trees, whereas Mistle are much bolder, strutting around on open grass
2. Mistle stands in a more "cocky" way, breast out, head up, whereas Song seems to often have its head down, furtling around turning leaves over, etc
3. On general shape, Mistle seems large-bodied with a small head, whilst Song always looks better-proportioned, with a smaller rounder body and larger head
4. As David says, song always looks brown, almost golden brown on the upperparts, whereas Mistle looks grey-brown.
5. In flight, Mistle shows white corners to the tail as well as the striking white underwings
6. Call: Mistle does a loud rattle, often as it flies, unlike Song's quiet psssiip
7.The breast spots on Song are more teardrop shaped, on Mistle, flatter and wider.
8. There is more of a golden wash on the breast and flanks, whilst Mistle has a very white-looking breast
These are just a few from memory - hope they are of use
All the best
Sean
Edward woodwood
Member
the Macmillan guide is excellent on species pairs like this
Thanks very much everyone, I will try to memorise those points.
I saw 3 together in the trees today quiet high up, so by what Sean says , if they are together they could point to being mistle thrushes ? . Also is there any difference in the tail length or shape.
I'll get there in the end.
Cheers.
Roger
I saw 3 together in the trees today quiet high up, so by what Sean says , if they are together they could point to being mistle thrushes ? . Also is there any difference in the tail length or shape.
I'll get there in the end.
Cheers.
Roger
hornet
Well-known member
All I'd add is that it's not as easy as you might think - particularly for a relative beginner like me.
We've had quite an influx of Mistle Thrushes around here in the last few months (or at least I've found more than normal) and I've seen them in various shades of grey / brown, with more or less yellow on the breast, with more or less rounded breast markings and more or less stretched / compact. We've also had a few Song Thrush around, so I've had to spend quite a lot of time on this subject.
All of the points mentioned are useful, but if you only catch a brief glimpse of the bird it can be v. difficult - particularly if it's a Mistle Thrush behaving like a Song Thrush and skulking (and they do). As usual, loads of practice, good notes and careful observation seems to be the only sure-fire solution.
The only thing I can add to the previous pointers is that Mistle have a rump that is quite markedly paler, and a longer tail / wings which can be quite striking, particularly when the bird is on the ground (as Mistle Thrush often are).
We've had quite an influx of Mistle Thrushes around here in the last few months (or at least I've found more than normal) and I've seen them in various shades of grey / brown, with more or less yellow on the breast, with more or less rounded breast markings and more or less stretched / compact. We've also had a few Song Thrush around, so I've had to spend quite a lot of time on this subject.
All of the points mentioned are useful, but if you only catch a brief glimpse of the bird it can be v. difficult - particularly if it's a Mistle Thrush behaving like a Song Thrush and skulking (and they do). As usual, loads of practice, good notes and careful observation seems to be the only sure-fire solution.
The only thing I can add to the previous pointers is that Mistle have a rump that is quite markedly paler, and a longer tail / wings which can be quite striking, particularly when the bird is on the ground (as Mistle Thrush often are).
ashrich
Registered , should be certified .......
Also Mistle Thrush have an undulating flight although not as much as say a Green Woodpecker , more of a few flaps on the way up and then holding the wings tight to the body on the down , usually while uttering their " rattle" . Mistle also like to sing in full view using the topmost point of a tree , not a bad song but short and very repetitive , even more so that the Song Thrush .
Ashley
Ashley
