a genus of birds of the family Turdidae of the order Passeriformes comprising 62 species. The body is 20-25 cm long. The birds are widespread in Europe, Asia, and America and have been brought to New Zealand. They hop along the ground, making curtsying motions. They nest singly or in small colonies in trees, in bushes, or on the ground; their nests are large, often with earth or clay in the walls. In the course of the summer there are one or two clutches, with three to seven eggs in each. During the winter the northern species migrate south in large flocks. They eat insects, spiders, worms, mollusks, and many kinds of berries, often feeding on the ground. In the USSR there are 12 species, the most common being the redwing (Turdus iliacus), the mistle thrush (T. viscivorus), and the field fare (T. pilaris). The blackbird (T. merula) and the song thrush (T. philomelos) are noted for their melodious voices.