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Thrushes
White's Thrush
White's Thrush
Maltese name/s
Scientific binomen
Order
Family
Sighting occurrence
Info*
A very rare bird that is seen individually. Although the sightings are rare it has been recorded from one up to four records in 2018, 2019 and 2020.
This thrush is similar to a Mistle Thrush but it has a black scaling on a paler white or yellowish background. The most striking identification feature in flight is the black band on the white underwings. The male has a song which is a loud, far-carrying mechanical whistle, with 5–10 second pauses between each one second long phrase twee...tuuu....tuuu....tuuu.
It breeds in the Himalayas and Siberia but is recorded in Europe each year.
Diet
This thrush mainly feeds on invertebrates, fruit and berries. Animal prey include earthworms, insects and other arthropods, slugs and snails.
Longevity record
-
Usually seen in
-
Occasionally seen in
October - November
Click on the image to open slideshow
1/0
Length (cm):
Weight (g):
27 - 31
100 - 140
Ring Ouzel
Ring Ouzel
Maltese name/s
Scientific binomen
Order
Family
Sighting occurrence
Info*
Usually seen in small groups but can be seen singly.
Differs from Barn Swallow in all plumages by pale throat and black under tail coverts, which are visible at greater distance than the red rump. Rufous cheeks and collar. Underparts finely streaked, giving the bird a slightly "dirty" look from a distance, with less contrast to the upperparts than in Barn Swallow. Immature birds with short streamers and buff cheeks and rump. Build more compact than Barn Swallow, with shorter bill, rounded wings and slightly shorter streamers. Flight slower and with more frequent gliding.
Diet
The ring ouzel is omnivorous, eating a wide range of insects, earthworms, small rodents, reptiles and berries.
Longevity record
9 years 1 month (Found dead in Spain, 3015231)
Malvizz tas-Sidra Bajda / Malvizzun tal-Ħannieqa
Turdus torquatus
Passeriformes
Turdidae
Very scarce
Usually seen in
October - December
Occasionally seen in
January, March - April, September
Click on the image to open slideshow
07-11-18
07-11-18
1/1
Length (cm):
Weight (g):
24 - 27
85 - 120
Blackbird
Common Blackbird
Maltese name/s
Scientific binomen
Order
Family
Sighting occurrence
Info*
Usually seen singly.
Male shiny black with bright yellow bill and yellow eye-ring. Female dark brown above. Throat and chest in slightly paler tones with diffuse dark spots. Juveniles similar to females, but with fine buff streaking all over. More long-tailed than Redwing and Song Thrush. Flight action with alternating bursts of wing-beats and with little undulation (see Fieldfare).
Diet
The Common Blackbird eats insects, earthworms, snails, spiders and a range of seeds and fruit. It mainly forages on the ground, probing and scratching at leaf litter, lawns and soil.
Longevity record
21 years 10 month (Germany, 7561680)
Usually seen in
October - December
Occasionally seen in
January - May, July, September
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08-12-17
08-12-17
1/5
Length (cm):
Weight (g):
23 - 29
80 - 135
Eyebrowed Thrush
Eyebrowed Thrush
Maltese name/s
Scientific binomen
Order
Family
Sighting occurrence
Info*
A very rare bird that is seen individually.
Upperparts are olive-brown, with contrasting gray on the head and upper breast. The face is prominently marked with a white supercilium, white eye crescents, and a bold black eye line. The bill is yellow at the base with a dark culmen and tip. The sides and flanks are pale orange, and the belly and undertail coverts are white. The legs are pale yellowish to pinkish. Female: Similar to male, but lighter and browner overall, with more extensive white on the malar and throat areas.
It breeds in the Siberia, Mongolia and Japan.
Diet
Insects, snails and berries.
Longevity record
5 years
Usually seen in
-
Occasionally seen in
October - November
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1/0
Length (cm):
Weight (g):
20 - 23
61 - 88
Fieldfare
Fieldfare
Maltese name/s
Scientific binomen
Order
Family
Sighting occurrence
Info*
Usually seen singly or in pairs but can be seen occasionally in small groups.
A large and long-tailed thrush. Slate grey lower back, rump and head. Brown upper back and yellow buff breast with dark spots. The all dark tail contrasts with the grey rump. Tail colour combined with white underwing distinguishes it from all other thrushes when flying. Flight undulated in long waves, with alternating glides and bursts of wing-beats.
Diet
Its diet consists of snails and slugs, earthworms, spiders and insects such as beetles and their larvae, flies and grasshoppers. Later in the winter windfall apples are eaten, swedes attacked in the field and grain and seeds eaten. When these are exhausted, or in particularly harsh weather, the birds may move to marshes or even the foreshore where molluscs are to be found.
Longevity record
18 years 1 month (Shot in Finland, A-44583)
Usually seen in
November - February
Occasionally seen in
October, March
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1/6
Length (cm):
Weight (g):
22 - 27
82 - 138
Song Thrush
Song Thrush
Maltese name/s
Scientific binomen
Order
Family
Sighting occurrence
Info*
Usually seen singly or in small groups.
A medium sized thrush with evenly brown to olive-brown upperparts. Underparts boldly covered with arrow-shaped spots. Chest with buff tones. Faint face patterns and buff underwing coverts distinguishes it from all other thrushes in the region. Lacks the white cheek-spot of Mistle Thrush, and the colour of the back of the head is not paler than the back. Sexes alike. Juveniles with buff-spotted upperparts. Quite short-tailed and compact, with rounded wings. Jerky, and not very undulated, flight pattern.
Diet
The Song Thrush's diet is largely earthworms and snails, with the latter broken open by the bird smashing the shell against a hard object such a stone. Other food incudes insects and spiders, plus fruit and berries in the colder months.
Longevity record
17 years 8 months (Found dead in the UK, CP 71448)
Malvizz
Turdus philomelos
Passeriformes
Turdidae
Fairly common
Usually seen in
March, October - December
Occasionally seen in
January, April, September
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1/13
Length (cm):
Weight (g):
20 - 22
53 - 79
Redwing
Redwing
Maltese name/s
Scientific binomen
Order
Family
Sighting occurrence
Info*
Usually seen singly or in small groups.
Small thrush with rufous flanks, strong white supercilium and whitish moustache stripe. Upperparts evenly brown, underparts white with dark spots on chest and sides. Underwing coverts rufous. Fairly compact build, with slightly more pointed wings and shorter tail than Song Thrush. Juveniles less brightly coloured, with buff spots on upperparts. Behaviour less secretive than Song Thrush.
Diet
The diet is varied and includes snails, earthworms, slugs and insects, then progressively more berries and fallen fruit in the winter months. Hawthorn, holly and rowan berries are the native species which are eaten, but in gardens, parks and shopping centre car parks etc.
Longevity record
17 years 4 months (Shot in Finland, P-337619)
Usually seen in
December - February
Occasionally seen in
March, October - November
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1/4
Length (cm):
Weight (g):
19 - 23
49 - 79
Mistle thrush
Mistle Thrush
Maltese name/s
Scientific binomen
Order
Family
Sighting occurrence
Info*
Usually seen singly or in pairs.
A large, and often shy, thrush. Most similar to Song Thrush. Other than size, it is distinguished by a long tail with white corners, white under wing-coverts and a pale, vertical cheek patch. Underparts are boldly covered in round (not arrow-shaped) spots that forms a dark patch on each side of upper chest. Rump slightly paler than the olive back. Noticeably bulkier than Fieldfare, with a heavier bill. Posture upright when foraging on ground, and head seems paler than the back. Flight non-undulating, but with alternating bursts of wing-beats and glides with folded wings. Often flies high.
Diet
Mistle thrushes feed mainly on invertebrates, fruit and berries. Animal prey include earthworms, insects and other arthropods, slugs and snails. Snails are sometimes smashed on a stone "anvil", a technique also used by the song thrush.
Longevity record
21 years 3 months (Shot in Switxerland, 768038)
Usually seen in
October - December
Occasionally seen in
January - April
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1/7
Length (cm):
Weight (g):
26 - 29
100 - 126
Rock Thrush
Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush
Maltese name/s
Scientific binomen
Order
Family
Sighting occurrence
Info*
Usually seen singly or in small groups. Up to five individuals had been seen.
Compact built bird attached to rocky habitat. Differs in all plumages from Blue Rock-thrush, by short, rufous tail and shorter bill. Primary projection very long, and wing-tips almost reaches end of tail in perching birds. Male in breeding plumage unmistakable with blue-grey head, orange-buff underparts and white patch on back (variable). Male resembles female and immature birds when not in breeding plumage, but can sometimes be sexed by partly grey head and hints of white on back. General characteristics of non-breeding plumage are greyish brown and speckled upperparts, and orange-buff, vermiculated underparts. Then told from female Blue Rock-thrush by aforementioned different build, bill and tail, and also by paler throat-sides/breast and warmer rufous flanks. Posture usually upright with giss resembling more a wheatear than a thrush.
Diet
It is omnivorous, eating a wide range of insects, berries and small reptiles.
Longevity record
-
Usually seen in
March - May
Occasionally seen in
August - October
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31-03-20
12-04-17
31-03-20
1/18
Length (cm):
Weight (g):
17 - 20
43 - 63
Blue rock thrush
Blue Rock Thrush
Maltese name/s
Scientific binomen
Order
Family
Sighting occurrence
Info*
The Blue Rock Thrush is the national bird of Malta and the emblem of 'Birds of Malta'.
It is usually seen singly or in small groups.
A slim, medium large thrush attached to rocky terrain, mountains or concrete buildings. Differs from Common Rock Thrush, in all plumages by long bill, and long, dark tail (not rufous). Bill and tail gives the bird an elongated appearance and profile. The tail reaches far behind the primaries when perched. Male unmistakable if seen well, but note that the bluish tones appears dark grey in unfavorable light. First winter males are barred underneath but gradually turns bluer and more evenly coloured. Immatures and females look alike with grey-brown upperparts and barred underparts, and are generally darker in throat and breast than the Common Rock Thrush.
Diet
It is omnivorous, eating a wide range of insects, berries, seed and small reptiles.
Longevity record
-
Usually seen in
All year round. Residential bird.
Occasionally seen in
-
Click on the image to open slideshow
CF7607
1/18
Length (cm):
Weight (g):
21 - 23
57 - 64
*Some information was sourced from ''BirdID Nord University''.
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