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The thrush (Turdus) consists of a species-rich family of songbirds, of which six species are native to Germany. These are very similar to each other and sometimes only differ in small things. Our overview will help you to determine.
In a nutshell
- six thrush species native to Germany
- blackbird or blackbird the best known and most common species
- commonly found in human settlements
- often breeds in parks and tree-lined gardens
- belong to the songbirds
Easily confused
The different types of thrushes are very similar to each other and can therefore be easily confused. Typically, chokes are
- 15 to 35 centimeters long
- 20 to 150 grams light
- brownish to greyish in colour
- have a black or colored spot pattern
- often spotted on the belly
It is also characteristic that both sexes of thrushes have the same coloration - with one exception: the blackbird, which we often see here, is the only type of thrush that has a sex-specific plumage coloration. While blackbird males are purely black and have a conspicuous yellow beak, the females are well camouflaged by their brownish spot colouration, which is typical of thrushes. The species are also very similar in their way of life.
Redwing (Turdus iliacus)
Notice: The term "thrush" comes from the characteristic thrush drawing, which is characterized by triangular dark spots on the breast plumage. This marking is present in almost all species of the family.
Native thrush species
There are about 65 different species of thrushes worldwide, which are found in both temperate and tropical regions of the world due to their adaptability. However, only six species are native to Germany. They differ mainly in the frequency of their occurrence.
Blackbird (Turdus merula)
Also known as the black thrush, it is both the most common and best-known thrush. Blackbirds were originally pure forest dwellers who, as followers of cultures, find the best living conditions within human settlements and have therefore discarded their shyness. In the meantime, they have become an integral part of cities and villages.
female (l.) & male (r.)
- Happen: Europe to Turkey, parts of North Africa
- Habitat: inhabits both dense forests and trees, very common in human settlements up to the big city
- coloring male: pure black, dark eyes, yellow beak
- coloring females: dark brown plumage, dark beak
- Length: 24 to 25 centimeters
- wingspan: 34 to 39 centimeters
- Weight: 110 grams
- breeding place: in trees, bushes, hedges, building and wall niches
- Number of blackbird eggs: four to five bluish to brownish eggs
- Breeding Duration: 14 days
- Nestling time: 15 days
- Breeding frequency: two to four broods a year
- Nutrition: Insects, (earth)worms, snails, berries and other soft fruits
- Life expectancy: ten years
- Singing: whistling, melodic singing, loudly cursing in case of danger (e.g. cat approaches nest).
Notice: With an estimated 40 to 80 million breeding pairs, the blackbird is one of the most common breeding bird species in Europe today.
Mistle Thrush (Turdus viscivorus)
As the name suggests, mistle thrushes prefer to eat the berries of mistletoe, which is parasitic on trees. Since the thrush excretes the seeds with the feces, they contribute to the spread of the parasite. In addition, mistle thrushes defend their mistletoe against any competitors.
- Happen: Europe, North Africa
- Habitat: in coniferous and mixed forests, large gardens and parks
- Coloring: heavily spotted underparts, brown upperparts with lighter rump, darker vertical cheekbones, black bill with lighter base
- Length: 26 to 29 cm, largest European thrush species
- wingspan: around 48 centimeters
- Weight: 140 grams
- breeding place: trees, bushes
- Number of Eggs: three to five
- Breeding Duration: 14 days
- Breeding frequency: two broods a year
- Nestling time: about 15 days
- Nutrition: mainly insects and insect larvae, (earth)worms, like berries and other fruits, seeds
- Life expectancy: 10 year
- Singing: melodic-melancholic singing, long-drawn-out buzzing call
Notice: At first glance, mistle thrushes can easily be confused with the very similar song thrush. However, they are significantly larger and do not have a dark yellow underside.
Ring ouzel (Turdus torquatus)
This rare thrush is native to the coniferous forests of the German mountain regions in particular. Sometimes it can also be observed in other places when it is just migrating. Smaller breeding areas are in the Bavarian Forest, in the Black Forest and in the Harz Mountains, but the species is mainly at home in the Alps.
female (l.) & male (r.)
- Happen: Central to northern Europe, wintering in the Mediterranean regions
- Habitat: wooded, higher locations in low mountain ranges and in the Alps
- coloring male: black, black-scaled underside with white border, conspicuous white, broad breast stripe, lower part of bill orange
- coloring females: more inconspicuous, rather brown coloring with light gray chest stripes
- Length: 24 to 26 centimeters
- wingspan: approx. 42 centimeters
- Weight: 130 grams
- breeding place: in conifers, rock crevices and stone walls
- Number of Eggs: four to six blue-green and tan spotted eggs
- Breeding Duration: 14 days
- Breeding frequency: two broods per year
- Nestling time: 12 to 14 days
- Nutrition: (Earth)worms, insects, snails, berries, seeds
- Life expectancy: ten years
- Singing: hard "tak-tak-tak", melodic, slow and wistful singing
Notice: Typically, the plumage of young ring ouzels is not fully colored, so the characteristic light breast stripe is missing. Instead, the breast of juvenile thrushes is still spotted.
Redwing (Turdus iliacus)
As a rule, the little redwing builds its nest well hidden in coniferous trees. Since, unlike the ring ouzel, it penetrates far into the treeless regions of the mountains and the north, it also breeds on the ground. The short- and medium-distance migrant occurs on migration and in the winter quarters in flocks, which often also include fieldfares.
- Happen: breed in Northern and Eastern Europe, often winter in Germany
- Habitat: in deciduous and mixed forests and large parks, often on meadows and pastures outside of the breeding season
- Coloring: dark brown upperparts, white belly mottled with brown, rust-red flank, rust-red underwings, light brow stripe
- Length: 21 centimeters
- wingspan: 33 to 35 centimeters
- Weight: 55 to 70 grams
- breeding place: in the trees, on the ground
- Number of Eggs: four to six greenish, brown spotted eggs
- Breeding Duration: 11 to 13 days
- Breeding frequency: one or two broods a year
- Nestling time: 9 to 12 days
- Nutrition: Insects, spiders, worms, snails, berries, seeds
- Life expectancy: 5 years
- Singing: softly chirping, fluting, but mostly only flight call, long and sharp "zieeeh"
Notice: The redwing is the smallest European thrush species. Sometimes it is also referred to as white thrush or whistling thrush.
Song Thrush (Turdus philomelos)
While their loud song can hardly be overheard, the shy song thrush itself usually remains invisible. It builds its nest well hidden in coniferous trees, and when foraging it prefers to stay in the shelter of dense undergrowth. Here you often only discover them through the rustling of the leaves.
- Happen: Europe to Asia, as a neozoan also in Australia and New Zealand
- Habitat: breeds in woods, parks and tree-covered gardens, on migration and in open landscapes in winter
- Coloring: brown upperside, light brown spotted underside, yellowish brown underwings
- Length: 23 centimeters
- wingspan: 33 to 36 centimeters
- Weight: 90 grams
- breeding place: in trees and shrubs
- Number of Eggs: four to six greenish-blue eggs with dark spots
- Breeding Duration: 12 to 14 days
- Breeding frequency: two broods a year
- Nestling time: 14 days
- Nutrition: earthworms, insects, snails, berries
- Life expectancy: an average of 10 years
- Singing: loud singing of short, repeated verses, call short and sharp ("zipp")
Fieldfare (Turdus pilaris)
Fieldfares are very sociable and are therefore usually found in larger groups or swarms. The species also likes to breed in small colonies.
- Happen: Northern and Central Europe to Siberia
- Habitat: in copses, parks and larger gardens, foraging preferably on grassland and fields
- Coloring: Chest beige with dark markings, back and head grey, white underwings
- Length: 26 centimeters
- wingspan: 39 to 42 centimeters
- Weight: 120 grams
- breeding place: on tall shrubs and trees
- Number of Eggs: five to six pale blue, reddish spotted eggs
- Breeding Duration: 10 to 13 days
- Breeding frequency: one or two broods a year
- Nestling time: 9 to 14 days
- Nutrition: Insects, snails, worms, berries and other fruits
- Life expectancy: ten years
- Singing: little melodic, croaking and squeaking, often performed in flight
Notice: The fieldfare is not only sociable, but also courageous: in groups, the small birds attack intruding crows or birds of prey and try to drive them away with droppings.
frequently asked Questions
What are the differences between blackbirds and thrushes?There are no differences between blackbirds and thrushes because the term 'thrush' is the umbrella term for the passerine family of thrushes - and one of these is the blackbird. It is only colloquially that a distinction is sometimes made between blackbirds, which tend to be atypical for thrushes, and other thrush species such as the song thrush or fieldfare.
What bird is most easily mistaken for a blackbird?The starling (Sturnus vulgaris), which is also native to Germany and is very common here, looks very similar to a male blackbird. However, the two species can be distinguished by the shiny metallic plumage of the starling, which also appears lightly dotted. Starlings are also slightly smaller than blackbirds. Female blackbirds, on the other hand, are colored in a way that is typical of thrushes and can therefore easily be confused with other types of thrushes.
I found a young thrush, what do I do with it?Caution: Do not take the young bird sitting on the ground or on a branch with you right away, but watch it for at least half an hour first - its parents are definitely nearby. Young blackbirds only stay in the nest for around 14 days (the so-called nestling period), but are then cared for by their parents as fledglings for about the same length of time. The young birds are only independent from the age of around 30 days.