Bird ID HelP Please.

[earthdragon64]

I've looked over the photos again, but unfortunately no rumps are clear enough to get a colour other than a bit paler than the wings. The upper head colour is gray, which would suggest Fieldfare, and the way they were moving in the field suggested Fieldfare.

Regards, Audrey.

[solus]

They look like Mistle Thrush to me - they don't have the bluey coloured head or the orangey throat/upper breast of Fieldfare, nor the clear contrast between head and back colour - quite apart from it being the wrong time of year.

I can't say I've ever noticed much difference between the way thrushes in general move when they are together in a field feeding in winter, apart from Song Thrush and Redwing being obviously much smaller and generally less upright than Fieldfare and Mistle Thrush. Then again, I have only ever seen one Fieldfare in summer, that in Shetland where it may have been breeding - incidentally, the RSPB reckons only between 1-4 pairs breed in the UK; the BTO records it as a "Scarce Breeder" with 1 to 4 pairs in 1998-02.

[RoyW]

These are without doubt Mistle Thrushes (IMO). That is what I thought when I first clicked on the thumbnails, and nothing that has been said in the thread has made me even consider anything else.

Mistles Thrushes often do appear to have grey heads, and the pale wing panels + lack of contrasting chesnut upperparts should rule out Fieldfare.

Mistle Thrushes tend to breed fairly early in the year, and will sometimes form 'post breeding' flocks (sometimes 40-50 birds).

[Jonathan]

Originally Posted by RoyW

These are without doubt Mistle Thrushes (IMO).

Mine too!

Cheers
Jonathan

[Rob_Williamson]

Mistle Thrush for me too

[ChrisJB]

Aye, mizzies for me too.

Regards, Chris

[Hobjob]

Large bales of straw