Thrush

Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)

in ornithology, the name for any of the Turdida. They are universally distributed except in New Zealand, and are very highly organized birds, and it is for this reason, perhaps, as well as on account of their omnivorous diet, that they have been able to establish themselves on a number of remote islands. They differ widely in their THRUSH habits and in their habitat; some are gregarious, others live solitarily or in telinus) is abundant in North America pairs. The wood thrush ( Turdus musin summer, as far N. as Hudson Bay, retiring to tropical and sub - tropical regions in winter. It is rather smaller than the song thrush, and very similar to it. Several other species are found in North America. The type genus Turdus 1 has several European species, but to only three of these is the name thrush applied. The song thrush , throstle, or mavis (Turdus musicus), the missel thrush (T. viscivorus), and white thrush (T. varius). The song thrush, common, is not quite nine inches long ; back and upper surface brown of slightly different shades, chin white, abdomen and tail coverts grayish-white; throat, breast , and flanks, together with the sides of the neck, yellow, thickly spotted with dark-brown. It is one of the bestknown European song birds, and in captivity is easily taught simple airs. It is found all over Europe, but leaves some of the N. parts in winter, being thus practically a bird of passage. It feeds on insects, worms, slugs, snails, and in the summer greedily devours cherries and smaller fruit . It usually builds a cup-shaped nest in a thick bush or shrub, and lines the interior with mud, clay, or dung. The eggs are four to six in number, bright bluish-green, with brownish spots. They usually produce two broods in the season.