Overview

Redwing: Medium-sized thrush with brown upperparts, dark-spotted white underparts, and rufous flanks. Eyebrows are white and conspicuous. Bill is yellow with black tip. Deep rufous-orange underwing linings are visible in flight. Swift and strong direct flight on rapidly beating wings.

Range and Habitat

Redwing: Native of Eurasia; strays occasionally to Newfoundland and is accidental to Long Island, New York during winter. Found in deciduous and mixed woodlands in summer and open fields and thickets during winter.

Breeding and Nesting

Redwing: Five to six blue green eggs with red brown spots are laid in a cup nest made of grass, mud, and twigs and built in a shrub or tree branch, 3 to 30 feet above the ground. Incubation ranges from 12 to 14 days and is carried out by the female.

Foraging and Feeding

Redwing: Eats insects, fruits, and berries. Hops on the ground to forage; also gleans food from branches and foliage.

Readily Eats

Raisins, Currants, Nut Meal

Vocalization

Redwing: Song is a loud fluid series of four to six notes, often descending and followed by a softer warble at the end. Calls include a high, thin "seeeeh", often given in flight, and a bold "kuck-kuck."

Similar Species

Redwing: Fieldfare has gray head, gray rump, rufous back, black tail, and white underparts with buff wash on throat and breast.