Field Guide
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Fieldfare
Turdus pilaris
Not yet photographed by the community
Large winter-visiting thrush with grey head and chestnut back.
Species Profile
Green List (UK)
- Lifespan
- 10–12 years in the wild
- Size & Weight
- 25–27 cm, wingspan 39–42 cm; 80–130 g
- Habitat
- Open woodlands, parks, orchards, and farmland with scattered trees; winters in berry-rich habitats including hawthorn and rowan.
- UK Distribution
- Winter visitor and passage migrant, arriving from September and departing by April; occasionally remains through mild winters. Breeds rarely in small numbers in northern Britain.
- Diet
- Omnivorous, feeding on invertebrates in summer (particularly earthworms and insects) and berries in winter, especially hawthorn, rowan, and holly.
- Prey
- Earthworms, insects, and larvae in breeding season
- Predators
- Sparrowhawks, kestrels, and occasionally foxes and stoats
- Mating Season
- May to July (in Britain, largely absent)
- Breeding
- Clutch of 4–6 eggs; incubation period 11–14 days; typically two broods in Scandinavia; rarely breeds in UK.
- Behaviour
- Highly sociable, often forming large flocks in winter, particularly when feeding on berries. Gregarious birds that roost communally and are vocal, with harsh chattering calls. They are relatively aggressive around food sources and will defend berry-bearing trees.
- •The Fieldfare is named for its preference for open field habitats, distinguishing it from its close relative the Song Thrush.
- •Winter populations in the UK can number hundreds of thousands of individuals, making them a conspicuous winter visitor.
- •Fieldfares breed across northern Europe and Asia, with British winter populations originating primarily from Scandinavia.
- •They are particularly attracted to berry-laden hawthorn and rowan trees and will often feed in large competitive flocks.
- •The species shows remarkable fidelity to wintering sites, with individual birds returning to the same locations across multiple winters.
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