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A Country Year - The Mistletoe Bird.

February 6th to February 23rd

Members of the Thrush family (Turdidae) include

Blackbird (Turdus merula).

Fieldfare (Turdus pilaris) alias Dow-fulter, Felt, French Fulfer, Fulfer, Jay-felter, Meslin Bird, Pulfer.

Mistle Thrush (Turdus viscivorus) alias English Fulfer, Fulfer, Missel Thrush, Mistletoe Thrush, Stormcock.

Redwing (Turdus iliacus) alias Fulfer, Norway Thrush.

Ring Ousel (Turdus torquatus) alias Mountain Blackbird.

Song Thrush (Turdus philomelos) alias Mavis, Mavish, Throstle, Thrush.

The declining Missel Thrush, usually a year round resident in this country, along with the Blackbird, and the even faster declining Song Thrush all, occasionally, migrate to other areas of this island, and can even spend some time on the Continent. Our stay-at-home birds are increased in the wintertime, in some years more than others, with birds from overseas. Some of these birds stay to winter with us in East Anglia, but the others are just passing through.

Three more thrushes, not yet mentioned, are the Fieldfare and Redwing, that are both winter visitors to this country for our berry crop, and the Ring Ousel, a summer visitor. Ring Ousels are to be found along the East Coast around mid March, and again in September; albeit briefly. The birds usually stay just long enough near the Coast in spring to feed up before completing their journey to the British uplands where they prefer to breed, and again in autumn before taking their departure to their wintering grounds. Flocks of Fieldfare and Redwing will remain with us, in East Anglia, in the wintertime, at least while there is an abundant food supply, but if that appears depleted they are soon up and away to try another area.

From British Song Birds by Neville Wood (1836) - This large and handsome Thrush remain in Britain throughout the year, and is rather plentifully, and equally distributed over the kingdom; though from its comparatively shy and secluded habits, less is known of its economy then that of other British Thrushes. I have taken considerable pain to make myself acquainted with its haunts and flatter myself that I have not failed in the attempt. The Missel Thrush is far from being a rare bird, and its habits have afforded me considerable amusement for several years past. Though it is fond of retirement , very thick and extensive woods do not appear to be its favourite haunts, as it is generally to be met with in small woods; and during inclement seasons, they congregate in small flocks; occasionally, also, though seldom, I have known it associate with the Garden Thrush. Its food is nearly the same as that of other Thrushes. In summer it subsists on slugs, snail, grubs, and worms; in autumn on blackberries, and on the berries of mountain-ash; and in winter on the berries of the mistletoe - whence its name - hawthorn, juniper, holly, and ivy, and sometimes, though rarely, on sloes. It does not appear so eminently frugivorous as other of the genus, and indeed I believe the fact of its eating domesticated fruit at all, has hitherto passed unnoticed, or has been mistaken for the Garden Thrush. The following anecdote, however, puts the matter beyond a doubt: -

When walking in a garden containing all kinds of fruit trees, in the summer 1833, the gardener, who, by the way, is by no means more favourable to the feathered race than the rest of his tribe, was prowling about in search of his prey.

A Country Year - The Mistletoe Bird.

February 6th to February 23rd

After a short while, my ears were saluted by the report of a gun from the quarter in which I had, but two minutes before, observed the gardener with his gun. His aim I knew to be fatal, and on nearing him to discover the nature of his prize, was not a little astonished to find it the bird whose habits we are now detailing, and still more astonished on learning that it had been feeding on redcurrants to a degree which had evidently greatly excited the destructiveness of the predaceous gardener. I might have doubted the truth of his story, and have taken it to be merely an excuse for destroying the bird, had I not since frequently verified the fact from personal observation. It is in walled gardens, partially surrounded by trees, that its frugivorous propensities are most apparent. In such situations, and especially when the young are rearing, its depredations on the garden are very considerable, and currants, gooseberries, raspberries, strawberries, and peas, seldom come amiss to the young birds. As long as any individual of the human race is to be seen in the garden, the Missel Thrush will seldom venture its precious life there, but the enemy is no sooner out of sight, than it appears from its retreat, and feasts at its leisure until again disturbed. By sheltering yourself behind a thick currant bush, you will have full scope for observing its frugivorous propensities. The gooseberries and currants it swallows whole, with great composure, always choosing the largest and ripest. The red currants are its favourites, and the yellow are only resorted to when their more rosy congeners fail. Of gooseberries the smooth kind as selected, and as our garden gives birth to those of the rough or hairy variety chiefly, the depredation I have experienced of these, from the Missel Thrush, are trifling. It is particularly partial to the large yellow gooseberries, and I have sometimes noted five or six of the species - doubtless the family party - making a hearty meal on this large and luscious fruit. Thus we find that the Missel Thrush has not a little of the epicure in it. It likes red currants and yellow gooseberries! - no mean fare either. But although I have known a single bush entirely despoiled of its fairest produce in the course of a week, or less, merely by the voraciousness of this bird, yet, on the whole, fruit forms but a small portion of its subsistence, as it is principally during the time when the young are in the nest that it eats fruit at all. Garden pears appear, however, fully as palatable to it as red currants and yellow gooseberries, and afford it more substantial and more permanent fare. When it can, it will always be happy in insinuate itself among the rabble of House Sparrows that invariably flock around the pea-rows, and by keeping concealed with considerable circumspection, seems willing that the blame should rest on its pert and noisy associates. But, though it may escape the observation of the gardener, yet it will not pass unnoticed by the observing Ornithologist. I have, accordingly, frequently seen it tugging with might and main at the pea-pods, either to pull them off, and open them at their leisure in a safer place, or to crack them, and devour the delicacies concealed within, on the spot. Nothing is more common than to observe this bird flying off with its booty to a neighbouring wood, where we may suppose its wife and family are anxiously awaiting its return. The garden is, however, perhaps not the beat place for watching the habits of this interesting bird. For although I have been fortunate as to have observed it frequently in gardens in this neighbourhood, yet, judging from descriptions of authors, it would seem that it is not generally a visitant of the garden. To the wood, therefore, let us repair without further delay. A thick braky wood (the Paradise of the Warbler family) will not do for our researches in the present case. A grove consisting of tall trees, either beech or oak, will suit us best.

A Country Year - The Mistletoe Bird.

February 6th to February 23rd

Having arrived at the desired spot, us us conceal ourselves behind the shelter of a hedge or thick bush, and, if there are any Missel Thrush's nest about the premises, you will not have long to wait before you hear the somewhat unmusical cry of the male bird, which may possibly fly directly over your hiding place. This will give you an idea of its mode of flight, and some of its other habits. But if you wish to observe it still more closely, you must, after having discovered a nest, turn up a piece of ground near the spot, and place a few meal-worms thereon. This done, return to your hiding place, and you will not fail of gaining a tolerably good insight into its habits, though it requires a long course of close and patient observation to be thoroughly acquainted with its manners. The best mean of observing in winter, is to conceal yourself near a misseltoe or juniper bush. The berries on these and other bushes it plucks, and devours with avidity. I have frequently known it trample newly turned up soil in the same manner as the Peewit Lapwing and other birds, in order to force the unfortunate worms out of their subterraneous retreat. Worms and insects appear to be more exclusively its food than snails, which indeed it does not shell so adroitly as the Garden Ouzel and the Garden Thrush.

The flight of the Missel Thrush is rapid, but not smooth, and it is best adapted for short quick flights. When you see it flying from the top of a lofty oak tree, and repairing to a neighbouring wood, its heavy and apparently laborious, though rapid flight, would certainly not lead you to suppose it a Thrush, were you not aware of the fact. It is also considerably larger than birds with which we commonly associate the name Thrush, being about eleven inches from the tip of the bill to the end of the tail. Some individuals measure even more, but I believe eleven inches to be the average.

The song of the Missel Thrush has been a disputed point among Ornithologists; some maintaining that it is loud, harsh and disagreeable, while other declare it to be full, rich, and melodious! Now I am be no means inclined to go into either of these extremes. I have frequently heard the song of this bird; and although it certainly does not possess the deep and rich melody of the Garden Ouzel, yet it is far from disagreeable. The merit of the song of birds must, however, always be, in a great measure, matter of opinion. Thus some give the palm to the Garden Ouzel, others to the Garden Thrush, others again to the Black-capt Fauvet, but I believe that all allow each of these delightful songsters to be unrivalled in its peculiar manner. But I am included to think that the difference of opinion with regard to the Missel Thrush, rests on another ground. For though there might be difference of opinion with regard to this as well as any other bird, yet I think the conflicting accounts have arisen from the little acquaintance which authors possess with this species. In my opinion, the song is decidedly inferior to the clear and open melody of the Garden Thrush, the stains being more desultory, and perhaps not quite so melodious. The Missel Thrush has been observed to sing on the wing, like the spotted Starling, Ivy Wren, and some others. I have only perceived this habit in a few instances, and such eccentric proceeding are certainly not peculiar to our songster. It commences its song very early in the year, generally in February, but sometimes in January, and at that season, though not so trilling as that of many other birds, it has indescribable charms to the Ornithologist; and indeed I know few pleasures greater than that afforded by hearing it send forth its melody from a lofty tree, on the delighted neighbourhood, and inviting, as it were, the balmy air of spring to spread its genial influence over the earth.

A Country Year - The Mistletoe Bird.

February 6th to February 23rd

From the Framlingham Weekly News (1865) - No birds, as far as my observation goes, resort to the mistletoe for food but the mistletoe thrush, and that bird only in severe weather. In mild winters I have frequently known the berries to remain untouched till spring, but when the snow is on the ground, or a hard frost has cut off its usual supplies of food, the mistletoe-thrush may be seen any day on the mistletoe, nor will it cease its attack on the berries, if the weather continues severe, till it has devoured every berry within possibility of reach; those on the extremities of the plant it will fly at it from the ground and peck, on wing, as children bob for cherries.

From the Birds of Norfolk by Henry Stevenson (1866) - The Missel-Thrush is undoubtedly one of those resident species whose numbers, through the attractive shelter of our large plantations, have greatly increased of late years. It is common enough in our gardens and orchards during the breeding season, noisily and boldly defending its nest and young against feathered marauders, or even man himself, often dashing at the head and face of the intruder in the most determined manner. Yet this very bird, which, like the rook and wood-pigeon, draws near to our homes for nesting purposes, is at other times amongst the most difficult of approach; indeed, I have often thought that the term missel, said to have originated in its fondness for mistletoe berries, might, with a very little alteration in spelling (mizzle), as appropriately indicate its wary nature. In this county, also, the term "dow fulfer," in allusion to its large, is commonly applied to the missel-thrush.

From the Bury Free Press William Howlett (1885) - The missel-thrush (turdus viscivorus) is more plentiful than either the fieldfare or redwing. Numbers have been seen and taken this winter in the neighbourhood of Newmarket. This is a fine bold bird, very prettily marked when in full plumage, and is one of the earliest breeding birds we have. It is partly migratory, though many of the species breed in the parks and woods near us.

From the Bury and Suffolk Standard William F. Bilson (1886)

A sermon to despondent hearts

The missel thrush expounds -

A homily which strength imparts

Where sorrow most abounds;

For when the darkest clouds arise

This bird is in blithe form,

And whistles 'neath the sullen skies,

And sings throughout the storm.

This is one of the largest species of the thrush. It is common pretty well all over England and certainly through our own county. But years ago the bird was somewhat rare, for we Montago writing thus in 1802 - "The missel thrush is by no means plentiful in England," and Dr. Babington in his recent Catalogue says that it has "greatly increased in numbers during the present century." It is a resident through the year, and its greater frequency is undoubtedly owing to the increase of plantations.

It frequents woods and plantations, and were you in search of it the spot to find it would be some long hedge-row skirting a meadow, especially if there were trees in the hedge.

A Country Year - The Mistletoe Bird.

February 6th to February 23rd

Throughout the spring it is one of the "common objects" of our gardens, shrubberies, and orchards. Gilbert White gives the time of pairing of missel thrushes as February 24th. They may certainly be numbered among our earliest breeders and begin to build at the close of March, or early in April. The nest, which is sometimes hidden from observation apparently with the greatest care, and ay others seems placed on purpose to be noticed in some conspicuous position, is made of green moss, white lichen, grasses, and coarse fibrous plants. The interior is neatly plastered with mud, and over this is laid a lining of fine grass. a place in which the nest is often found is the fork of an old apple tree in an orchard. Sometimes, but rarely, I fancy this bird nests in the oak. One of its names is the holm thrush - holm meaning, for one thing, the evergreen oak, or ilex - but that most probably arose from the bird's connexion with the oak in another way, to be mentioned presently.

The food of this bird consists of worms, slugs, and fruit. To various species it is particularly partial, and its name of missel thrush is derived from its fondness for mistletoe berries. Another of its favourite is that on the plant called butchers' broom found on heathy pastures, and which flowers in February, sometimes earlier. From my own observations of the bird I am inclined to think that what it relishes are ivy berries, which you may see it greedily eating in the early days of March. Speaking of this particular food, White says - "Ivy berries afford a noble and providential supply for birds in winter and spring, for the first severe frost freezes and spoils all the haws. Ivy berries do not seem to freeze. The missel thrush is not the enemy to the garden that other members of the genus are, not caring, as a rule, for fruit.

The male sometimes begins to sing as early as February, and one Valentines's day a few years back, when I was caught in a smart shower on Hardwick heath, I was entertained while sheltering under a tree by the loud song which poured forth amidst the driving rain. But this was an unusually early instance of hearing its full song, which resembles in some points that of a blackbird, but lacks the rich melody which distinguishes the splendid notes of the latter songster. The most probable reason why this bird was first called the holm thrush is because it loves to sing from the top of the oak, beech, fir, or other high tree. The great peculiarity of this bird is that it will sing at a time when the notes of its feathered companions are silent by reason of a depressed atmosphere, a murky sky, or a sharp rainstorm. In some parts of England the missel thrush is called the storm cock by reason of this habit of singing in windy, stormy weather. Its early notes are frequently heard in January, but as I have said it does not break out into full song much before March. As a celebrated naturalist has said, its notes are "repeated many times in succession."

From British Birds by William Henry Hudson (1895) - The thrushes that inhabit the British Isles are six in number. The missel or mistletoe thrush, or stormcock, is the largest, exceeding the fieldfare, which comes next in size, by at least an inch length and two inches in spread of wings. This species possesses in a marked degree all the characters that elsewhere distinguish the true thrushes, which are world-wide in their range. Theirs is a modest colouring: - olive-brown above, paler and spotted below; a loud and varied song, and harsh cry; a statuesque figure; rapid, startled movements on the ground, with motionless intervals, when the bird stands with head and neck much raised, in an attitude denoting intense attention; and finally, a free, strong, undulating flight.

A Country Year - The Mistletoe Bird.

February 6th to February 23rd

The missel-thrush inhabits almost the whole of the British Islands, and is most abundant in Ireland. Throughout England and Wales he is fairly common, less in Scotland, and becoming rarer the farther north we go. He is found in all woods and plantations, but is most partial to wooded parks, orchards, and gardens, which afford him food and shelter throughout the year. He is the hardiest of our vocalists, and is better known as a winter than a summer songster. His song may be heard in the autumn, but from midwinter until spring his music is most noteworthy. Its loudness and wild character give it wonderful impressiveness at the season of the year. He is not of the winter singers that wait for a gleam of spring-like sunshine to inspirit them, but is loudest in wet and rough weather; and it is this habit and something in the wild and defiant character of the song, heard above the tumult of nature, which have won for him the proud name of storm-cock.

This thrush is an early breeder, and pairs about the beginning of February. The birds, after mating, are exceedingly pugnacious, and attack all others, large or small, that approach the chosen nesting-site. The nest is not often made in evergreens, to which blackbirds and song-thrushes are so partial; as a rule, a deciduous tree - oak, elm, or beech - is made choice of, and the nest may be at any height, from a few feet above the ground to the highest part of a tall tree; and as it is built so early in the year, when trees are leafless, it forms a most conspicuous object. Furthermore, the missel-thrush, a shy and wary bird at other times, becomes strangely trustful, and even careless, when nesting, and often builds in the neighbourhood of a house, or in an isolated tree at the roadside. When building and breeding the birds are silent, except when the nest is threatened with an attack, when they become clamorous and bold beyond most species in defence of their eggs and nestlings.

The nest is large and well made, outwardly of dry grass, moss and other materials, woven together; it is plastered with mud inside, and thickly lined with fine dry grass. The four eggs vary in ground-colour from bluish white to pale reddish brown, and are spotted, blotched, and clouded, with various shaded of purple, brown, and greyish under-markings. Two or three broods are reared in the season.

From the Thetford and Watton Times (1896) - In severe winters the missel thrush sings to us a song in February from the chestnut tree near the church of St. Peter, its wild and powerful melody rising above the wailing of the wind or the roaring of the storm-spirit, gaining for it the name of "stormcock." Rooks, too, return to their nests this month, and fly round and round in large flocks at a great height above the town.

From the Norwich Mercury E. Kay Robinson (1902) - In a well-grown coppice, especially if it slopes down to a winding stream, you will see the same kinds of birds as frequent your garden - except the house sparrow, because in the matter of food, water, and shelter, the coppice is almost equal to a garden. In the coppice, too, you will hear the early songs of a mild January, and may look for February birds' nests, if the weather serves. But the bitterly cold wind and hard frost which came upon us last Saturday night gave the birds something else other than nesting to think about. On the previous morning we had a foretaste of what was coming in slight falls of snow; but this melted as it fell, and it was pleasant to hear the missel thrush, who has annexed the clump of trees outside the gate - where I shall not be surprised to see a nest later on - singing bold and cheerily through a veil of falling snow.

A Country Year - The Mistletoe Bird.

February 6th to February 23rd

Even when the flakes fell upon him, he only shook his head, and hopped onto the opposite twig, and sang again. Compared with the song-thrush's masterly improvisations, the missel thrush has but a penny-whistle sort of street music; but such hearty defiance of wintery depression rings in his cheery repetitions that it does one good to hear him. Later, too, when he is the owner of a conspicuous nest in the fork of some tree, with tags of sheep's wool fluttering from it, and sings less in defiance of winter than of egg stealing crows, his notes pleasantly dominate the bird chorus that shrills from every shrubbery and coppice. Like the half-caught refrain of some familiar tune running through elaborate orchestration, it seems to give coherency and sequence to the whole. Next day, however, was no singing weather, even for missel thrushes. Not a bird ventured far from the lee side of sheltering vegetation, for, wherever that pitiful wind penetrated, the ground became iron. As for nests - in 16 degrees of frost - all thought of them was for the present indefinitely postponed. Yet less than forty-eight hours before our "first butterfly" of the year - a small tortoiseshell - had flown through an open window, seeking some secluded retreat where it could resume its prematurely broken slumber.

From the Norwich Mercury Kay Robinson (1905) - In some respects our ancestors must have been better of observers of nature than we are. At intervals now, for instance, we see controversy revived as to the proper spelling of the name of "Missel thrush" and its meaning; and a great deal of learning is wasted in endeavours to give the name various derivations. Yet any one who wishes to settle the matter for himself can, in any district where there is plenty of mistletoe, watch the bird fluttering and flapping among the yielding twigs of this queer, bunchy plant in getting at its berries. In one short avenue during a recent frosty afternoon I counted no fewer than four missel thrushes thus engaged: and there can be no doubt that our ancestors, familiar with this habit, called it first the "mistletoe thrush" and then the "missel thrush" - the change in spelling coming naturally, because the written word "mistle" does not properly represent the sound. It is possible, of course, that our ancestors do not deserve quite so much credit as appears at first; because the spread of the population and the great demand for berried mistletoe at Christmas for special purposes, it is seldom now that we see the plant growing low down near human dwellings. Formerly, perhaps, it may have been a common object of every garden, when the visits of the mistle thrush could be observed by everybody.

From the Newmarket Journal (1929) - The missel-thrush is first heard in January, while robin and wren sing on any mild winter day. The missel-thrush is the largest of our thrushes, measuring nearly twelve inches to the song-thrush's nine inches, and is distinguished by the bolder and more erect carriage and his greyer hue. His best name is stormcock. The Welsh call him the "master of the coppice," and no bird of his size is more fierce in defence of his nest. He drives off all that may come, rook, jay magpie, jackdaw, or sparrowhawk, and hurls himself at rat, weasel, or cat. From daybreak he sings for several hours at a stretch, then at intervals during the day, and again in the evening.

From Weather Lore compiled by R. Inwards - When the missel-thrush perches itself upon the topmost bough of a tree, and remains there for some time singing loudly, expect rain.

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