Fieldfare

The fieldfare (Turdus pilaris) is a large member of the thrush family that only breeds very rarely in the United Kingdom but is a regular winter visitor across most of the country.


Appearance

The fieldfare measures some 24-27 centimetres (10-10.5 inches) in length. It is similar in size and build to the mistle thrush, being deep-chested and with longish wings and tail. The upright stance and hopping movements of the fieldfare are also similar to those of the mistle thrush.

Its plumage, which is similar as between males and females, is, however, quite distinctive. It shares the speckled throat, chest and underparts of its thrush cousins, but the head, nape and rump are noticeably grey and the background colour of the throat and chest is a rusty yellow. The back is chestnut and the tail black. The wings are brown above and white below.


Behaviour

The fieldfare’s flight is more leisurely and less undulating than that of the mistle thrush. On the ground it runs or hops, pausing erect with the wings drooped. In the open, it prefers to perch in any available bushes or trees, but is wary in its habit. It is gregarious in winter, especially on open farmland, and a flock of fieldfares will fly into a tree at the same time when disturbed, all facing the same way when perched. They are often found in mixed flocks with other bird species, such as redwings.

The voice is a harsh chatter or a soft, drawn-out note. The song is a mixture of harsh and squeaky sounds together with flutier notes.

Food for fieldfares, during the breeding season, consists of worms, insects, small molluscs, beetles and caterpillars. The winter diet comprises mainly berries (rowan berries are a favourite) and grain. In orchards they will feed on fallen apples.


Breeding

Fieldfares breed mainly in central and northern Europe, returning to their breeding grounds towards the end of March. Small colonies nest together in woods, parks and thickets, usually near water. Nests are built about three metres above the ground, or lower in tundra regions where the vegetation rarely reaches those heights. The nest is built from dry twigs, roots, stalks and mud, lined with fine vegetation. Four to six eggs are laid, with the hen bird doing most of the incubating, for up to 14 days. The young will stay in the nest for about 14 days after hatching. A second brood may be raised. Fieldfares leave for their winter territories in October.


Conservation

The fieldfare was in former times prized as a game bird, one of the few songbirds to have this dubious distinction. Many thousands of fieldfares were shot every year during their migrations, their meat being regarded as a delicacy. However, this practice has died out in most places, so fieldfare numbers are not under such pressure as formerly. Despite this, the fieldfare still has “red status” as a bird whose numbers have declined in recent years in the UK.

© John Welford