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Mistle Thrush

Turdus viscivorus

1 photo

1 photographer

·Common · 1 pts

The largest UK thrush, bold and upright in stance.

1 community photo of Mistle Thrush on Things With Wings. Top-rated shots often use around 1/4000ss shutter, 300mm.

Species Profile

Green List (Least Concern)

Lifespan: 8–10 years in the wild
Size & Weight: 27–29 cm, wingspan 42–51 cm; 100–165 g
Habitat: Open woodlands, parks, orchards, and gardens with scattered trees, particularly where mistletoe and berry-bearing plants are abundant.
UK Distribution: Resident throughout much of the UK, though numbers increase in autumn and winter with continental birds arriving. More widespread in England and Wales than in Scotland.
Diet: Primarily mistletoe berries, rowan berries, hawthorn berries, and other fruits in winter; insects, especially flies and beetles, in summer.
Predators: Sparrowhawks, Eurasian jays, and occasionally Eurasian buzzards.
Mating Season: March to June
Breeding: Clutch of 3–5 eggs; incubation period 12–14 days; fledging at 13–15 days. Typically two broods per season.
Behaviour: Highly aggressive and territorial birds, known for defending berry-laden trees vigorously against rivals even in harsh weather. Often found in pairs or small flocks, with a characteristic loud, rattling call. They are noted for feeding conspicuously in winter, often high in trees.

Did You Know?

•The scientific name viscivorus comes from their fondness for mistletoe berries, and they play a crucial role in dispersing mistletoe seeds across the UK.
•Mistle Thrushes famously breed earlier than most UK birds, sometimes with eggs laid as early as February during mild winters.
•They are known as 'storm cocks' for their habit of singing loudly from exposed perches during stormy weather.
•Unlike many other thrushes, Mistle Thrushes are highly sedentary and rarely migrate, making them year-round residents in much of the UK.
•Their diet shifts dramatically between seasons: almost entirely fruit in winter but invertebrates in summer, making them one of the most flexible UK thrushes.

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Shutter

1/4000ss

ISO Range

800

Aperture

f/f/10

Focal Length

300mm

🐦 Mistle Thrush

Bird