Mistle Thrushes

I’d never really considered why Mistle Thrushes are called Mistle Thrushes. It is, of course, because they eat Mistletoe berries.

I discovered that by looking at the scientific name, which is Turdus viscivorus. Turdus means thrush and viscivorus means mistletoe-eating. This one is eating Yew arils instead, or at least it would be if I wasn’t distracting it:

They are very upright and alert:

They are making a ‘zeee zeee’ sound as they fly from tree to tree.

• 

• 

• 

• 

They are here every day.

They are gorgeous birds.