How to identify
The Mistle Thrush is a pale, black-spotted thrush – large and powerful. It stands boldly upright and bounds across the ground. In flight, it has long wings and its tail has whitish edges. It's most likely to be noticed perched high at the top of a tree, singing its fluty song or giving its rattling call in flight.Key features to look out for
- Larger than Blackbird
- Cold greyish brown above with spots on a white breast
Did you know?Despite being our largest songbird, Mistle Thrushes are surprisingly easily overlooked. They can be distinguished from the smaller Song Thrush by their size, the lack of warm brown tones in their plumage and the very heavy dark spots on the breast.
Key
- Resident
- Passage
- Summer
- Winter
* This map is intended as a guide. It shows general distribution rather than detailed, localised populations. - Jan
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How to identify the UK’s thrushes, including two special winter visitorsGet to know the UK’s thrushes, including the Fieldfares and Redwings that flock here for the winter.
Redwings and Fieldfares are both species of thrush and in this feature, we take a look at these and other thrushes that are found in the UK. Read on to find out more about this fascinating family of birds and for ID tips.
