Song Thrush vs Mistle Thrush
How to tell these two garden look-alikes apart.
The quickest tell. Song Thrush: warm brown above, cream below with neat arrowhead spots in tidy rows. Mistle Thrush: bigger, greyer and more upright than a Song Thrush.
Song Thrush
Turdus philomelos
How to spot it
- Warm brown above, cream below with neat arrowhead spots in tidy rows
- Smaller, browner and rounder than a Mistle Thrush
- Upright stance with a gentle, round head
Birder's tip: The small, neat spots line up in tidy rows down a warm buff breast.
Photo: Frank Sengpiel, CC BY (iNaturalist)
Mistle Thrush
Turdus viscivorus
How to spot it
- Bigger, greyer and more upright than a Song Thrush
- Bold rounded spots scattered at random, not in rows
- White tail corners flashing as it flies away
Birder's tip: Stands tall and grey on the lawn like a small pale statue.
At a glance
| Song Thrush | Mistle Thrush | |
|---|---|---|
| Size | smaller than a Blackbird | larger than a Blackbird |
| When you'll see it | Resident, here all year | Resident, here all year |
| Latin name | Turdus philomelos | Turdus viscivorus |
Hear the difference
Their calls are often the giveaway. Have a listen.
Song Thrush call
Mistle Thrush call
Learn them so they stick
Learn Birds teaches the UK's birds by sight and song, with real photos and recordings. It uses spaced repetition so the difference sticks for good.
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