Thrush ID: help appreciated (1 Viewer)

[PaulCountyDurham]

When I took this picture there was a lot of lighting flare, which is why I've made changes in the way it is presented.

When I first saw this bird, the colouring on his/her back looked more like a song thrush than a mistle thrush, but on viewing the markings underneath I think he/she is a mistle thrush.

Picture taken just off the coast, County Durham, perched on low shrubs/thickets (yesterday).

Thanks in advance,
Paul

 

[Welsh Peregrine]

Song - many more markings on the face than mistle.

 

[Nutcracker]

Ditto to Song Thrush

 

[PaulCountyDurham]

Ditto to Song Thrush

Many thanks to both Nutcracker and WP.

Can I just ask though, how certain are you?

When I first saw the colouring from a distance I thought Song Thrush, but I also thought the bird was more the size of a mistle thrush.

Thanks,
Paul

 

[Nutcracker]

The relatively small bill (stouter in Mistle), and the inverted-heart-shape spots (rounder in Mistle) both confirm Songy

 

[Welsh Peregrine]

No doubt in my mind.

 

[Alexander Stöhr]

A Song Trush for me too. As said by Nutcracker, Mistle has different shaped spots on the belly. Ruonded or vertical shaped.
In some Mistle the dfferent direction of the spots (horizontal on the breast and vertical on the belly is striking and then a very good pointer towards Mistle),
Although enhanced by warm light and camera settings (?) the warm brown upperparts and strong warm yellow-buff belly is also much better for Song.

Edit: or is it better described the other way round? See picture here, to see what I mean: http://www.irish-birds.info/images/mistle-thrush.jpg

 

[PaulCountyDurham]

The relatively small bill (stouter in Mistle), and the inverted-heart-shape spots (rounder in Mistle) both confirm Songy

Thanks. I'll make a note of the bill for future. I did spend about half an hour last night looking at the picture and comparing with pictures of both on the internet. I did spot the inverted heart shape spots but just didn't think them distinct enough when comparing with pictures on the internet. Anyway, the main thing I'd hoped for is clarification, so many thanks for that.

 

[PaulCountyDurham]

No doubt in my mind.

Many thanks. 'Happy to be corrected and confirmed!

 

[kb57]

Interesting you've got song thrushes on the Durham coast, it shows the strong climatic gradient across the county - pretty rare in winter up here in NW Durham

 

[Nutcracker]

Interesting you've got song thrushes on the Durham coast, it shows the strong climatic gradient across the county - pretty rare in winter up here in NW Durham

Same in Northumbs, they're quite frequent on the coast in winter, but just summer visitors in the uplands.