THRUSHES

Mistle Thrush

The Mistle Thrush is a bird common to much of Europe, temperate Asia and North Africa. It is the largest thrush native to Europe.

The Mistle Thrush is a large thrush, measuring 11 inches in length, with 18 inches wingspan and weighs 93 - 167 grams, with an average of around 130 grams.

They have pale gray-brown upperparts, chin and throat are grayish-white, and the yellowish-buff breast and off-white belly are marked with round black spots. The spotting becomes denser on the lower chest, giving the appearance of a breast- band.

Their long tail has white tips on the outer feathers, and their underwing coverts are white. Eyes are dark brown and the bill is blackish with a yellowish base to the lower mandible. Legs and feet are yellowish-brown.

There are no plumage differences between the sexes.

Juveniles are similar to adults, but they have paler upperparts with creamy centers to many of the feathers and smaller spots on the yellowish underparts.

CALL: The main call is given by both sexes. It is a dry chattering "krrrr", louder when it is alarmed or excited. It is often likened to the sound of a football rattle, a form of a musical ratchet. There is also a squeaky "tuk" contact call.

SONG: The male has a loud melodious song with fluted whistles, sounding like "chewee-trewuu ... trureetruuruu" or similar, repeated three to six times. It is used to advertise his territory, attract a mate and maintain the pair bond.

Feeds on a wide variety of invertebrates, seeds and berries.

Found in open woods, parks, hedges and cultivated land.

Breeds in Europe and in Asia.

The female builds a large cup-shaped nest with sticks, dry grass, roots and moss, coated on the inside with a layer of mud and lined with fine grass and leaves.

She lays 3 - 5 whitish-buff or greenish-blue eggs spotted with red, purple or brown. She mainly incubates them for 12 - 15 days.

SOURCE:
https://en.wikipedia.org