In December, as the harsh winter approaches, charming robins flee the cold of northern countries and descend to southern countries. These days, you’ll start seeing flocks of these robins more frequently. Are you ready to get to know five species of robins more closely?
Field Thrush:
The field thrush is one of the most commonly seen juniper species in winter. Males and females are similar. It prefers wooded and shrubby areas. It is seen in flocks in winter. We recommend keeping a close eye on these flocks. You may occasionally see a red thrush in the flock. Field thrushes are very active and noisy. They are constantly moving from one place to another to feed. When you visit parks, pay attention to the rustling sounds coming from dry leaves! It could be a field thrush.
How Can I Identify a Field thrush?
When viewed from above, the field thrush is immediately recognizable by its gray head, brown back, gray coccyx, and black tail. It has spots characteristic of thrushes on its chest and the edges of its wings. When flying among other thrushes, it attracts attention with its tail, which is longer than its body.
Mistle Thrush:
It is easier to find in winter and travels in flocks. Like other juniper species, it prefers wooded and shrubby areas. Males and females are similar. While it feeds mostly on insects and worms, it also feeds on fruit in winter. It is very protective of the fruit trees it feeds on and does not allow other thrushes to approach. In some countries, it is known as the “storm herald” because it ascends to the top of a tree and begins to sing loudly in bad weather.
How Can I Identify It?
It is lighter in color than other thrush species. In flight, it has white stripes on the outer tips of its tail. The spots on its breast are larger and more numerous than those of other thrushes.
These spots appear as large, rounded spots, not lines. When seen from above, it appears as a light gray overall. If you see it from below in flight, look at the underwing color. This thrush has white underwings.
Song Thrush:
The Song Thrush is more delicate-looking than other thrushes. Males and females are similar. It prefers forested areas. It is also seen in parks and gardens in winter. It loves to eat snails. It crushes the shells of snails by rubbing them against stones and eating the meat. In winter, like other thrushes, it feeds on fruit. Song Thrushes do not form flocks. They are usually seen alone or in very small groups. They can blend in with flocking thrushes.
How Can I Identify The Song Thrush?
The Song Thrush is most often confused with the Red Thrush. The easiest way to tell them apart when perched is to look at the thickness of the stripes just under their wings. The song thrush’s underwing stripes are thicker than those of the red thrush and have an inverted V shape. In flight, the underwing is yellow. From above, it appears dark brown.
Rufous Thrush:
This is the thrush species that birdwatchers most often want to see. Its appearance is very elegant. It prefers coniferous forests and wooded areas. In winter, it forms large flocks and moves down to southern regions. It can form mixed flocks with larks. When flying in flocks, they resemble starlings. But don’t be surprised! Starlings have a different flight pattern. The rufous thrush is similar in size to the singing thrush. They feed like all other thrushes. Males and females are similar.
How Can I Identify a Rufous Thrush?
The underside of its wings is rust-red, making it easy to recognize in flight. When perched, the stripes on the underside of its wings become thinner and less frequent as they descend. If you see it from above, you’ll notice it’s dark brown, like a song thrush. One of its most distinctive features is the light-colored stripe just above its eye, which looks like kohlrabi. There’s another light-colored stripe on its face that resembles a moustache.
Blackbird
It is seen in wooded and brushy areas. Its calls can be heard in winter. It is the thrush with the most beautiful song.
When you hear it, it sounds like someone is singing.
Blackbirds are most often seen alone or standing close together but separate. This species is the most territorially protective of the thrushes. When other thrushes approach its territory, it can be heard calling angrily. In fact, it becomes very angry at approaching foreign birds or predators!
How Can I Identify It?
It is the easiest thrush species to identify. The male is jet black with an orange beak. The area around the eyes is orange-yellow. The female is dark brown and has a dull beak.
