Mistle Thrush (Turdus viscivorus) lives in woodland edges across Europe, Western Asia. It feeds on insects and berries. Its conservation status is Least Concern.
Hear the Mistle Thrush
A real field recording of the Mistle Thrush, made in the wild.
At up to 30 cm long, the mistle thrush is the biggest thrush in Europe, the nominate form measures 27-28 cm and spans 45 cm across the wings, weighing between 93 and 167 g with an average of about 130 g. while the larger southeastern subspecies reaches 30 cm.
A male mistle thrush can be heard singing up to 2 km away, louder than most woodland birds, even in rain and wind. This far-reaching, storm-proof song lets a single male broadcast his territory across a whole forest patch, attracting mates without needing to move, and helps maintain stable breeding pairs.
The species lays three to five speckled eggs, each about 30 mm × 22 mm and weighing 7.8 g, of which 6 % is shell. The female incubates them for 12-15 days, then the chicks stay in the nest another 14-16 days before fledging. This rapid development cycle allows two broods per year in most of its range.
By eating mistletoe berries and later excreting the sticky seeds onto tree branches, the mistle thrush is a key agent in the plant's life cycle. Its preference for mistletoe means each bird can plant, ensuring the parasite's spread and, in turn, providing a reliable food source for the thrush in lean months, a tight ecological loop that ties bird and plant fortunes together.
Mistle thrushes migrate in small groups, with Scandinavian and Russian birds heading south from mid-September, many crossing the Strait of Gibraltar between mid-October and November, then returning from late March to early May.
Sources
Every fact above was checked against these pages, and kept only where one of them states it.
In the misty dawn of a forest glade, the Mistle Thrush emerges, its gentle song a melancholic serenade that weaves through the trees, a haunting melody that heralds the arrival of this enigmatic bird. With a fluid, effortless stride, it moves through the underbrush, its brown back and spotted breast a masterful blend of camouflage and subtle beauty, allowing it to thrive in a world of hidden dangers and quiet wonders. As it forages for berries and insects, its sharp, inquiring gaze misses nothing, a testament to the thrush's remarkable adaptability and resilience in the ever-changing tapestry of the natural world.
Advertisement
Hear the Mistle Thrush, and 4,400+ more
Real recorded sounds, 11 nature games and a free Daily 5, 1v1 quiz duels, conservation wins and a safe Kids mode. Free on Feravox.
