Mistle Thrush Turdus viscivorus   [Linnaeus, 1758]

Other Names Trends & Distribution Breeding & Survival Biometrics Books & Links

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Order: Passeriformes Family: Turdidae
BTO Codes: M., MISTH EURING No: 12020
Number in Britain: 205 thousand territories (Summer)
Conservation Status:
UK: AMBER
European: Not a species of concern
Global: Least Concern ( Details )
Links to: Images   Videos   Sound  
Status in UK: (A)  Migrant/Resident Breeder, Passage/Winter Visitor
Subspecies: viscivorus recorded in Britain (of 3 subsp. in the world)
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Length: 27 cm Wingspan: 45 cm Weight: M/F: 130 g    
Scientific name from: L.: turdus=a thrush and L.: viscum=mistletoe + vorare=to devour
World Distribution: Europe & w Asia
Habitat: Forest, woodland, towns
Diet: Invertebrates, also berries in autumn and winter
TitBit: One of our earliest breeders (eggs are often laid in February), the Mistle Thrush, probably gets its name from a penchant for mistletoe, though it will noisily defend any fruiting bush it happens to find against allcomers.  

Population and Distribution

Population Trend: Wider Countryside Report
Regional Trends: Scotland   Wales   England   English Regions
Distribution: Atlas Maps    (Local Atlases)    BBS Maps
British Population Size:
    Summer: 205 thousand territories in 2000
    First Record: 8th Century [Fossil evidence from Devensian (last) glaciation, 10-120,000 yr ago]
    Conservation Status: AMBER because Recent Breeding Population Decline,
   Previous Assessments: 2002-2007 AMBER     1996-2001 GREEN  
   Races of Concern: viscivorus AMBER (Recent Decline)
Habitat Occupancy (in the Breeding Season):
    No habitat data from BBS
European Population Size:
    Summer: 2 to 4.4 million pairs   (Trend in Numbers)
Population Assesment from Birds in Europe
Distribution in Europe
Listed on the Appendices/Schedules of: WBD(II*), Bern(III), Bonn(II)
Survey Results: BirdTrack
Garden BirdWatch
Winter Farmland Bird Survey

Breeding and Survival

Egg Size: 30 x 22 mm Egg Weight: 7.8 g (of which 6 % is shell)
Number of Nest Records: 132   (more would be welcome!)
Clutch Size: 4 eggs 3.96 ± 0.63 (2 - 6) N = 1355
Incubation: 15- 16 days 15.18 ± 2.06 (11.5 - 19.5) N = 1354   by the: Female
Fledging: 14 - 17days 15.22 ± 2.23 (11 - 19) N = 2300 as: Altricial, downy
Source:
British Trust for Ornithology (2005) Nest Record Scheme data
First Clutches Laid: 7 Apr (17 Mar - 22 May)
Number of Broods: 2(3)
Trends in Breeding Productivity
Number Ringed: 549 (Annual Totals)
Adult Survival: 0.621 ± 0.025       
Juvenile Survival: 0.570 (in First-Year)  
Age at First Breeding: 1 year Typical Lifespan: 3 years
Maximum Recorded Age: 11 years 4 months 9 days (set in 1982)
Summary of Ringing Recoveries       

Biometrics

Ring Size: C
Wing Length Adult: 157.4 ± 4.4 Range 151 - 165 mm, N =949
Juvenile: 157.1 ± 4.5 150 - 164 mm, N =357
Male: 159.5 ± 4.0 152 - 166 mm, N =194
Female: 155.4 ± 4.6 149 - 163 mm, N =148
Weight Adult: 125.9 ± 11.73 Range 108.0 - 145.0 g , N =725
Juvenile: 126.7 ± 11.25 108.0 - 145.0 g , N =304
Male: 120.2 ± 9.04 107.0 - 136.0 g , N =142
Female: 123.7 ± 10.67 106.0 - 142.0 g , N =113
Source:
British Trust for Ornithology (2005) Ringing Scheme data

Other Names

 
Gaelic: Smeňrach-mhňr Welsh: Brych y Coed
Danish: Misteldrossel Dutch: Grote lijster
Finnish: Kulorastas French: Grive draine
German: Misteldrossel Hungarian: Léprigó
Icelandic: Mistilţröstur Irish: Liatráisc
Italian: Tordela Norwegian: Duetrost
Polish: Paszkot Portuguese: Tordeia
Spanish: Zorzal charlo Swedish: Dubbeltrast
Local Names:Stormcock

For More Information...

Books and Monographs:
   Simms, E. 1978 British Thrushes Collins, London [598.911 SIM]
See Also:
Find scientific papers on Google Scholar or Scirus by clicking the icon
Wikipedia entry
BirdLife species page
Recent sightings and information from BirdGuides
State of the Nations Birds by Chris Mead