Mistle Thrush

Turdus viscivorus

With its bold speckled breast and fearless defense of food sources, this stocky thrush can be spotted across woodlands and gardens in Europe and Asia.

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Visual Identification

Appearance

The Mistle Thrush is a large, stocky thrush with greyish-brown upperparts and a white underside marked with bold, dark spots. Its head features a slight greyish tinge, and its long tail has white corners visible in flight. Legs are yellowish-brown, and the bill is dark grey-brown.

Both sexes look similar, with juveniles showing a more spotted appearance on their upperparts. The bird's plumage remains consistent throughout the year, with no significant seasonal changes.

The underside of the wings is white, which is a key way of identifying the species from the Song Thrush, which has buffish-orange underwings.

Size

Length

26cm to 29cm

Wingspan

45cm to 50cm

Weight

93g to 167g

Colours

Males and females have similar plumage

Primary Colour

Brown Grey

Secondary Colour

White Buff

Beak Colour

Brown

Leg Colour

Brown Yellow

Habitat and Distribution

Habitats

Woodland

The Mistle Thrush can be found in Woodland habitats.

Garden

The Mistle Thrush can be found in Garden habitats.

Wetland

The Mistle Thrush is not typically found in Wetland habitats.

Coastal

The Mistle Thrush is not typically found in Coastal habitats.

Urban

The Mistle Thrush is not typically found in Urban habitats.

Farmland

The Mistle Thrush can be found in Farmland habitats.

Grassland

The Mistle Thrush is not typically found in Grassland habitats.

Desert

The Mistle Thrush is not typically found in Desert habitats.

Tundra

The Mistle Thrush is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

Rainforest

The Mistle Thrush is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

Mountain

The Mistle Thrush is not typically found in Mountain habitats.

Savanna

The Mistle Thrush is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

Distribution

Mistle Thrushes inhabit many wooded habitats across Europe and parts of Asia. They prefer open woodlands, parklands, and large gardens with scattered trees. These birds are also found in orchards and hedgerows.

In the UK, they are resident year-round, while northern and eastern populations may migrate south for winter. They are widespread across Britain and Ireland, adapting well to human-modified landscapes.

Elevation Range

Up to 600 meters

Climate zones

Temperate, Subarctic

Distribution Map

This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Mistle Thrush. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.

A few things to keep in mind:

Birds might not be everywhere in the coloured areas, for example, they may be present around the coast of that country
Where birds live can change with seasons and available food
This map is quite simple - it doesn't show exact locations

We're working on making our maps even better! Soon, we hope to show you:

More detailed maps for bigger countries, including state and region
How birds move around during different seasons