MISTLE THRUSH
The mistle thrush is a large thrush and a year-round resident of Kefalonia. The mistle thrush is similar in appearance to the song thrush but is bigger, stands more upright and is paler. Both sexes have pale grey-brown upperparts, a greyish white throat and rounded black spots on the pale yellow and off-white underparts. On either side of the chest, there is often a dark patch. The mistle thrush got its name from eating mistletoe, which is a favoured food if available, its old name of stormcock comes from it singing in wet and windy conditions.
This bird can be found in open woods, hedges, olive groves, and cultivated areas, although I have found them on the slopes of Mt Ainos. As there is no mistletoe here, they feed on seeds, berries, and invertebrates. Mistle thrush's nest in trees, either against the trunk or on a forked branch and is fiercely defended against predators. The clutch of 3 to 5 eggs are incubated for 2 weeks with the chicks fledging after a further 2 weeks. There are usually 2 broods, although this depends on the availability of food.
