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Fieldfare

Turdus pilarisOrder: PASSERIFORMESFamily: Thrushes (Turdidae)

Fieldfare Breeding Male Portrait
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General

Fieldfare: Large, robin-like thrush with rufous back and gray head and rump. Underparts are brown-barred white on breast and sides, and white on belly. Wings are rufous. Tail is dark gray to black. Sexes are similar.

Range and Habitat

Fieldfare: Occurs widely, often in large numbers, in most of central and southern Europe in winter; also common in Siberia and Greenland. Casual in Alaska and accidental elsewhere in North America; preferred habitats include woods and woodland edges in summer and open country, fields, and agricultural areas in winter.

Listen to Call

Voice Text

"shak-shak-shak"

Interesting Facts

 The Fieldfare was first described by Linnaeus in his Systema naturae in 1758 under its current scientific name.

 The English name, dating back to at least the twelfth century, derives from the Anglo-Saxon feld-fere meaning "traveller through the fields", probably from their constantly moving, foraging habits.

 Unusual for a thrush, they often nest in small colonies, possibly for protection from large crows.

 A group of fieldfares are collectively known as a "flock" of fieldfares.



Author

Gary Owen Dick

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Range Map for Fieldfare
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Family Thrush (Turdidae)_blue
Species Turdus pilaris
Length9.5 - 10.5 Inches
Wingspan15.5 Inches

Fieldfare

Fieldfare: Large, robin-like thrush with rufous back with gray head and rump. Underparts are brown-barred white on breast and sides, and white on belly. Wings are rufous. Tail is dark gray to black. The bill is yellow with a dark tip. Strong and fast flight on rapidly beating wings.

● Song: "shak-shak-shak"

● Foraging & Feeding: Fieldfare: Eats insects, earthworms, slugs, berries, and fruits. Hops about on the ground and gleans food from trees and shrubs.

● Breeding & nesting: Fieldfare: Five to six gray or blue green eggs marked with red brown are laid in a nest made of mud, vegetation, and twigs, and built on the ground or on a low tree branch. Incubation ranges from 13 to 14 days and is carried out by the female.

● Similar species: Fieldfare: Redwing has rufous wash on underwings, brown head and rump, black spotted and streaked throat, breast and sides, and buff eyestripe.

Flight Pattern

Swift strong direct flight on rapidly beating wings.
Fieldfare Breeding Male Body Illustration
● Range & Habitat: Fieldfare: Occurs widely, often in large numbers, in most of central and southern Europe in winter; also common in Siberia and Greenland. Casual in Alaska and accidental elsewhere in North America; preferred habitats include woods and woodland edges in summer and open country, fields, and agricultural areas in winter.
BreedingMonogamous, Solitary to colonial nester
PopulationCasual in AK, Accidental
MigrationMigratory
Weight3.8 Ounces