Fieldfare - Turdus pilaris - Family: Turdidae

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Fieldfare - Turdus pilaris
© Robin Chittenden www.harlequinpictures.co.uk

This is a big, handsome thrush and a winter visitor in large numbers to the United Kingdom. The first known nest in Britain was in Scotland in 1967. A few pairs have since bred in various English counties but the total British population is still tiny. This is a very gregarious and noisy bird, with a distinctive 'chack-chack-chack' call. It has a bright yellow bill, buff underparts heavily marked with black, and a red-brown back.

Harsh weather may force fieldfares, sometimes with smaller redwings, another winter migrant, into gardens where they feed avidly on berries and windfall apples.

Food

Mostly fruit and berries during autumn and winter taken directly from the plant or scavenged on the ground.

Plants

Alder buckthorn, Apple, Bird cherry, Crab apple, Dog rose, Dogwood, Guelder rose, Hawthorn, Holly, Ivy, Midland hawthorn, Rowan, Snowy mespile, Snowy mespile, Wayfaring tree, Whitebeam, Yew

Predators

Sparrowhawk