Differences between Falcon and Thrush

Falcon and Thrush are two classes of birds that belong to the Falconidae and Turdidae families respectively.

Falcons are birds of prey. They are known for their agility and sharp vision. They have superior hunting skills, characterized by quick identification, chase, and capture. Their back, head, and wings are bluish grey, while their neck and belly are white with greyish black markings. The skin around the beak, the legs, and feet are yellow. The beak of Falcons is sharply bent at the tip, where they also have a sharp tooth that helps in killing the prey. The talons on the feet are long, sharp, and curved. The Falcon family includes about 40 species.

Thrush is a small and stout song bird. It has a large round head, pointed bill, short tail, and soft plumage. Its eyes are usually large with eye rings. The legs are long and sturdy, while the toes are flexible for perching. The bird’s skin is generally reddish brown on the back and white on the belly with spots or stripes. The color varies for different species. There are about 170 species of Thrushes. Wood Thrush, Blackbird, American Robin, Song Thrush, Ground Thrush, Hermit Thrush, and Himalayan Forest Thrush are some of them.

Where are Falcon and Thrush found?

Falcons live everywhere where they can find food. They flourish near coastlines, but can be found in river valleys, mountains, deserts, grasslands, and forests too. They exist in all parts of the world, except Antarctica.

Thrushes live in forests and places with tall trees, damp soil, foliage filled grounds, and streams. They also live near human dwellings provided there are tall trees, vegetation, and water sources in the vicinity. Thrushes can be found in North Africa, southern Europe, New Zealand, Australia, Asia, Canada, and parts of America.

What do Falcon and Thrush eat?

Falcons are carnivores and chiefly eat other birds, pigeons being their favorite. They prey on birds like doves, gulls, ducks, bats, and waterfowl. Falcons are capable of seizing birds in mid-air. They sometimes also eat fish, frogs, squirrels, mice, and insects.

Thrushes are omnivorous birds. They hop and run looking for food on the ground. They eat snails, earthworms, grasshoppers, spiders, beetles, wasps, slugs, larvae, insects, invertebrates, fruits, and cherries.

Here are a few pointers about the eating patterns between Falcon and Thrush

• Falcon do eat Fish while Thrush may not eat Fish.
• Both Falcon and Thrush eat Frogs.
• Both Falcon and Thrush eat Lizards.
• Falcon do eat Snakes while Thrush may not eat Snakes.
• Falcon do eat Turtles while Thrush may not eat Turtles.
• Falcon do eat Squirrels while Thrush may not eat Squirrels.
• Gophers are commonly eaten by Falcon while Thrush do not eat Gophers.
• Baby Ducks are commonly eaten by Falcon while Thrush do not eat Baby Ducks.
• Falcon do eat Mice while Thrush may not eat Mice.

Size of Falcon and Thrush?

When it comes to size, Falcons are usually 15-60 centimeters long. Their wingspan could be 74-120 centimeters.. Depending on the species, Thrushes are five to 12 inches long with a wingspan of 12-16 inches. Mistle Thrush is one of the largest Thrush species. It is 11.41 inches long.

The average weight of Falcons is 1.5-3.3 pounds. The male birds weigh 0.73-2.20 pounds, while the females weigh 1.5-3.3 pounds. The Gyrfalcon is the heaviest of all species. It weighs 3.3 pounds. while The average weight of Thrushes is 1.52 ounces. Song Thrush is one of the heaviest among Thrush species. It weighs 1.76-3.77 ounces.

Where do Falcon and Thrush nest?

Falcons do not build their nests. They use tree holes, ledges in cliffs, or discarded nests of other birds to lay their eggs. Both partners engage in incubating the eggs, which hatch in 29-32 days. The young birds will be able to fly when they are about six weeks old. Nevertheless, they stay under their parents’ care till they are about 10 weeks old.

Thrushes build their nests in trees and bushes, sometimes even on the ground or below shrubs and tall trees. The nests are meticulously constructed with sticks, grass, leaves, and moss. The materials are neatly bound using dung or mud to create perfect structures. It is usually the female Thrush that builds the nest. She takes about three weeks to complete the task. The nest are used for multiple broods. Thrush eggs are glossy blue with a smooth texture. The eggs of few species could have brown speckles. The mother bird incubates the eggs for about two weeks, after which they hatch. The responsibility of feeding the young ones is shared between the parents. The chicks are ready to fledge when they are two weeks old.

How long do Falcon and Thrush live?

The average lifespan of Falcons is 13 years, although they may live up to 16-20 years in the wild. Many birds die young due to malnutrition. Several adults are also recorded to be dying early because of habitat loss, DDT poisoning, airplane accidents, and environmental issues.

The average lifespan of Thrushes is two to 12 years. American Robin has the shortest life expectancy of two years, while Wood Thrush is known to have the longest lifespan of eight years. The longest-lived Thrush bird was a Swainson’s Thrush. It was 12 years and one month old when it was caught for banding in 2006 in Montana, USA.

Are Falcon or Thrush migratory birds?

Not all Falcons migrate. Peregrines from Alaska and Greenland migrate to USA and South America during winters. The Amur Falcon migrates in winter from Russia and China to India and South Africa. Most other species remain in their habitats throughout the year if the climate is favorable.

Majority of Thrush species are migratory. Some species like Wood Thrush migrate twice a year. Birds of this species travel long distances, crossing the Gulf of Mexico in one night. Redwing Thrush migrates southward from the east coast of UK. Some species from Scandinavia travel to the UK, while some of them relocate from UK to Spain and north Africa. In America, the species living in coasts move towards Mexico and Central America in winters. Thrush species living in inlands will spend the winter in South America. Thrushes from northeast Europe migrate to north and south Africa. Asian species such as Eyebrowed Thrush migrate from China, Japan, and Korea to Thailand, Singapore, and the Philippines. The Himalayan Thrush relocates from the Himalayas during winters to the western ghats in India.

Do Falcon and Thrush fly in flocks?

A group of Falcons is called a cast or cauldron. Falcons are solitary birds. They live, hunt, and migrate alone. They socialize only in the breeding season.

A group of Thrushes is known as mutation. Most species are predominantly solitary birds. They may form small groups of 50 for roosting and feeding if there is abundant food in the vicinity. Some species may forage with their family in summers. However, Thrushes are highly territorial in nature, defending their territories year after year.

Are Falcon or Thrush protected?

Falcons are protected across the world under various laws like Migratory Bird Act, Wildlife Conservation Act, and the International CITES treaty. The vulnerable species are protected under the Endangered Species Act.

Thrushes are protected in some parts of the world, such as the UK, France, Canada, India, and Australia. Killing or capturing them is against the law in these countries.

Are Falcon or Thrush endangered?

Falcons are not endangered. The American Peregrine was classified as endangered under the Endangered Species Conservation Act in 1970. However, it was removed from the list in 1999. The existence of the bird was threatened owing to DDT poisoning. However, the banning of DDT together with other recovery projects have saved the species from becoming extinct.

Thrushes are largely not endangered birds. However, Taita Thrush is a species that is listed as endangered. A very small population of them exist in Kenya. Principe Thrush is another endangered species that is endemic to Principe, Italy. Spotted Ground Thrush is also considered to be endangered. Meanwhile, the population of certain species like Song Thrush, Bicknell’s Thrush, Tickell’s Thrush, and Laughing Thrush is reducing drastically due to scarcity of food, loss of habitat, and predator threats. Grand Cayman Thrush, Bonin Thrush, and Kamao Thrush are the extinct species.

Can Falcon and Thrush fly?

Falcons are splendid flyers. They have thin, tapered wings that help them to cut down drag and fly in high speeds. With sharp eyesight, the birds can dive at speeds of nearly 200 miles per hour to capture their prey. The average flying speed of Peregrine Falcons, the fastest animal in the world, is 242 miles an hour. Falcons are solitary travelers that fly about 15,500 miles each year. Amur falcons are the longest migratory birds in the world. They fly over 13,600 miles at a stretch.

Thrushes are amazing avian birds. They have sprawling wingspan for excellent aerodynamics. The birds spread out their wings and tail, and tuck in their legs during flight. The flying speed of Thrushes depends on the species. The average speed is 30-50 miles an hour. Most species fly long distances during migration. Wood Thrushes travel over 2,000 miles on a single way, covering more than 311 miles in a day.

Can Falcon and Thrush swim?

Falcons do not swim. The structure of their body and feet are not ideal for swimming. However, some Falcon species dive into water to catch the prey.

Thrushes are not water birds. They have clawed feet for perching. The birds are not known to swim. They bathe in small puddles.

Mating patterns among Falcon and Thrush

Falcons start mating when they are about two years old. The male performs courtship displays in the air to attract the female. He also fetches preys for the female, who in turn shows her acceptance by perching in a suitable spot. The female typically lays three to four eggs, which are around two inches long and pink or brownish in color. Both partners take turns to incubate the eggs. After the eggs hatch, the female usually sits on the young ones to keep them warm while the male gets food for her. The partners protect the young ones by attacking anything that intimidates them.

Thrushes attain sexual maturity when they are one to two years old, subject to the type of species. At the arrival of the mating season, the male bird chooses a breeding site. He perches there, singing loudly to attract a mate. When the female favors a male and the nesting site he has chosen, she engages in courtship. The partners fly, sing, and feed together while perching intermittently. The female Thrush lays three to five eggs in a clutch, one egg each day. Some species may have more than one brood in a year. While the female builds the nest and incubates the eggs, she gets the support of the male in feeding the young ones.

When is the mating season for Falcon and Thrush ?

Falcons are lonely birds that come together only during mating. The mating season depends on the location. It is generally March-July.

The mating season for Thrushes occurs differently based on the species and geography. The duration is usually March-August.

Do Falcon and Thrush mate for life?

Falcons are monogamous and mate for life. They also tend to use the same nest every breeding season.

Thrushes are monogamous for the particular breeding season. Most birds stay loyal during the period. However, extra-pair copulation has been observed.

How do Falcon and Thrush sleep?

Falcons are active during the day, although they may take occasional naps. They sleep during the night while standing on one leg and resting their head on their back.

Thrushes are not sociable birds. They do not often roost in groups. They prefer to sleep amidst dense vegetation. During the breeding season, female birds usually sleep at the nest.

Can Falcon and Thrush be eaten?

Falcons were eaten in the past in some cultures like Hare and Strait. They ate the bird meat by boiling, frying, or roasting. However, consumption of Falcons is no longer permitted by stringent conservation laws.

The meat of Thrush birds was commonly consumed in Europe in earlier years. Thrush meat cuisines from Italy, France, Ireland, and Belgium are documented. However, the birds are not widely eaten in modern times.

Can you hunt Falcon or Thrush?

Hunting of Falcons was widespread for sport, falconry, feathers, skin, and meat. Although hunting has reduced due to strict laws, falconry is still practiced in countries like United Arab Emirates, Kazakhstan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Austria.

Thrushes are hunted for sport or caught with nets in several parts of the world. There are not adequate laws to protect the birds. Countries like France, USA, and Canada prohibit hunting of these birds.

Can you feed Falcon or Thrush?

It is illegal to feed wild birds in many countries. However, in countries like the USA, one can own and feed Falcons. The birds are carnivores and should be fed insects, rodents, and ground meat.

People in Australia, New Zealand, France, UK, and USA are known to have feeding stations at their backyards and gardens to attract birds like Thrush. Thrush species are offered cherries, worms, soaked raisins, corn, and fruits.