Mistle Thrush: a two-minute wildlife lesson

Birds of Europe · day 5 of 7

Five facts

1. Its old English name is stormcock, because the male often sings after wind and rain, and sometimes right in the middle of it.
2. Its song is slower than a blackbird's but far louder. It can often be heard up to 2 km away.
3. In winter, it guards a tree loaded with mistletoe or holly berries, saving the fruit for hard times later on.
4. Mistletoe needs this bird. The thrush eats the berries, and the sticky seeds come out in its droppings, sometimes on a branch where they can sprout.
5. Chaffinches often nest next to mistle thrushes. The finch keeps watch, the thrush chases off danger, and both win.

The quiz

1. What was the mistle thrush's old English nickname?

• Raincatcher
• Thunderbird
• Stormcock (correct)
• Windhover

It sings in wet and windy weather, hence stormcock.

2. How far away can its song often be heard?

• Up to 2 km (correct)
• Only about 5 m
• Up to 50 km
• Up to 300 km

Its loud song is often audible up to 2 km away.

3. Which kind of tree does it most like to guard in winter?

• A pine full of cones
• An oak full of acorns
• A willow by a river
• A tree with mistletoe (correct)

It prefers trees that host mistletoe, and otherwise holly.

4. How does the mistle thrush help mistletoe?

• It waters the plant
• It spreads its sticky seeds (correct)
• It eats insects off its leaves
• It builds nests to shade it

It eats the berries and passes out the sticky seeds.

5. Which bird often nests near the mistle thrush?

• The chaffinch (correct)
• The sparrowhawk
• The magpie
• The tawny owl

The chaffinch nests close by, and both species benefit.

More about the Mistle Thrush

Same week

All lessons

Nature documentaries