Listen to our audio slideshow

We generally think of the thrush as the brownish, speckley bird you see hopping about on the grass. There are two species that you are likely the see; the Mistle Thrust and the Song Thrush. And the one you are more likely to see in the garden is the Song Thrush. If it flies high to the tree tops it is a Mistle. If it flits down to the nearest hedge it is a Song.

The Song Thrush is small and appreciates good cover. If you see a bird feeding in lots of open space like a playing field, it is a Mistle. If it is under a bush in your garden it’s more likely to be a Song Thrush.

The Mistle is big, chunky and hops in a bold, rather in your face way. The song has generally an altogether less obstreperous vibe.

In wildish places like countryside and woodlands they are not terribly easy to see but in gardens they are almost as trusting as robins, though without the robin's apparent matiness.

The CD of A Bad Birdwatcher's Companion by Simon Barnes is available at a special Times Online discounted rate from Naxos AudioBooks. The slideshows to accompany extracts from the audiobook's first five chapters have been created by Times Online with pictures supplied by the RSPB.

Explore Books

• Book Extracts

• Book Reviews

• Books Group

Times Recommends

• Simon Kernick's Harrogate festival diary
• The 10 greatest sci-fi films never made
• Europe Between the Oceans by Barry Cunliffe