Mistle thrush sings to welcome stretch in evening

The first, barely perceptible, stretch in the evenings is celebrated by the mistle thrush. 

It starts nesting very early, sometimes laying eggs before the end of February, which means the male bird starts singing to establish breeding territory in January. It sings from a tall perch, issuing notes that are similar to those of its close relatives, the song thrush and the blackbird, though slower and less elaborate. However, if the mistle thrush is a bit short on melody it certainly doesn’t lack volume. In good conditions it can be heard 2km away.

Most song birds prefer still conditions for their performance, which is why birdsong is loudest at dawn and dusk. The mistle thrush is an exception and will sing at all times of day, whatever the weather. The fact that they continue to do so in wind and rain is the reason for the old English name ‘storm cock’. If this winter continues the way it’s started we should consider adopting it as the Irish national bird.