Fieldfare

The Fieldfare Turdus pilaris is a member of the Thrush family Turdidae.

It breeds in woodland and scrub in northern Europe and Asia. It is strongly migratory, with many northern birds moving south during the winter. It is a very rare breeder in Great Britain and Ireland, but winters in large numbers in these countries.

It nests in trees, laying several eggs in a neat nest. Unusually for a thrush, they often nest in small colonies, possibly for protection from large crows. Migrating birds and wintering birds often form large flocks, often with Redwings.

The Fieldfare is a large thrush. It is omnivorous, eating a wide range of insects and worms in summer, and berries in winter.

The sexes of Fieldfare are similar, with plain brown backs and grey rump and rear head. Underwings are white. Underparts are spotted, with a reddish wash to the breast.

The male has a simple chattering song, and a chattering flight and alarm call.

public domain image from a 1905 field guide (http://www.biologie.uni-hamburg.de/b-online/birds/naumann.htm)