Yorkshire wildlife
Yorkshire wildlife, from red kites to hares, hedgehogs, and seals. Notes on the animals and birds, including description, behaviour and life cycle, plus our own photos.
Read about Yorkshire wildlife.
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Mistle thrush
Mistle thrush on Harrogate Stray
The mistle thrush in Yorkshire.
Mistle thrush: classification
Thrushes (turdidae) are a large family of passerine birds. There are 16 species of true thrushes, plus 31 species of smaller thrushes (chats) - Collins Bird Guide.
Mistle thrush: distribution
Mistle thrush, Harrogate Stray
Mistle thrushes are resident in Britain and Ireland all year round, as well as in other parts of Europe including France, Spain, Italy, and the Balkans. They also breed further north (Germany, Scandinavia, the Baltic States, Russia), but head further south for the winter.
They favour open woodland, parks, orchards, large gardens, and Harrogate Stray.
Mistle thrush: description & behaviour
Mistle thrush, Studley Royal deer park
The mistle thrush is similar to a song thrush, but larger (26-29cm compared to 20-22cm).
The breast is white (but except for a dark patch on the side) with rounded black spots. The side of the head and neck is brown-grey, but paler than that of the song thrush. Its underwings are white.
The mistle thrush's call is a dry rattle. Collins says that its song is similar to that of the blackbird, but harder in tone and more desolate.
Mistle thrush calling
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Yorkshire wildlife: brown hare
The brown hare, or European hare, is a charismatic wild resident of Yorkshire. This non-native species has been in Britain since Roman times at least. Preferring arable land, or grassland with hedges, brown hares are most likely to be seen in the spring. That's the time of year when they may display 'boxing' behaviour.
Read about the brown hare.
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