Attracting Mistle Thrushes

If a Mistle Thrush – a larger and more upright version of a Song Thrush - visits your garden it is more likely his choice than through your efforts!  This is a bird that is not easy to attract but may visit your garden for food in the form of berries, especially in the winter - Cotoneaster, Rowan and Holly are all favourites.  So can we tempt this bold prima donna with his gorgeous speckled breast in any other way?  Well this really is an example of getting the habitat right for him (and her) which means natural food, dense shrubs and a nice place to sing.  Mistle Thrushes love to declare their territorial presence from the top of a tree as early as December – spring starts early for this fluty songster!

What do Mistle Thrushes eat?

When natural food is scarce a Mistle Thrush will take raisins, sultanas, mealworms, suet (especially with added berries) and peanut granules from the ground or a Ground Tray. In harsh weather scatter food on the ground for this lovely bird together with over ripe apples and other fruit.

Top 3 foods for Mistle Thrushes:

• Blackbird Bonus      5 Star
• The Max Mix            4 Star
• Eat-It-All                   3 Star