mistle thrush

Thân thiện

A mistle thrush perches on a branch, eating bright white berries.

Definition

Noun: 1. A large European songbird: A specific species of thrush (Turdus viscivorus) known for its size and distinctive behavior. 2. A bird associated with mistletoe: Named for its dietary habit of feeding on mistletoe berries, which it also helps disperse.

Usage Examples

• The mistle thrush has a loud, rattling call that is often heard in flight.
• We spotted a mistle thrush defending a berry-laden tree from other birds.
• Unlike the song thrush, the mistle thrush has bolder, more rounded spots on its pale underside.

Advanced Usage

• Ecological role: The term is used in ornithology and ecology to discuss seed dispersal, as the mistle thrush consumes and excretes mistletoe seeds, aiding the plant's propagation.
• "Mistle thrush" vs. "Song thrush": A common point of discussion for birdwatchers, focusing on differences in size, plumage spotting, and habitat.

Variants and Related Words

• Mistletoe Thrush: An alternative, less common name for the same bird.
• Stormcock: A traditional folk name for the mistle thrush, referring to its habit of singing boldly in windy, stormy weather.

Synonyms

• Turdus viscivorus: The scientific binomial name.
• Stormcock: (As above, a colloquial synonym).

Related Phrases

• To defend a larder: A phrase sometimes used in birdwatching literature to describe the mistle thrush's aggressive behavior in guarding a tree full of winter berries.

Học thuật

Noun

1. large European thrush that feeds on mistletoe berries

Từ đồng nghĩa

• missel thrush
• mistletoe thrush
• Turdus viscivorus