Fieldfare
Turdus pilaris
The Fieldfare (Turdus pilaris) is a common thrush found in 74 countries, weighing about 106 g. The fieldfare is a member of the thrush family Turdidae.
About the Fieldfare
The fieldfare is a member of the thrush family Turdidae. It breeds in woodland and scrub in northern Europe and across the Palearctic. It is strongly migratory, with many northern birds moving south during the winter. It is a very rare breeder in the British Isles, but winters in large numbers in the United Kingdom, Southern Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. It is omnivorous, eating a wide range of molluscs, insects and earthworms in the summer, and berries, grain and seeds in the winter.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The fieldfare is easily recognisable with its slate-grey head, nape and rump, dark brown back, blackish tail and boldly speckled breast. In flight, its white under wing-coverts and axillaries are conspicuous. The harsh flight call "tsak tsak" is also distinctive. The forehead and crown of the male are bluish-grey and each feather has a central brownish-black band. The lores and under-eye regions are black and there are faint, pale streaks above the eyes. The ear-coverts, nape, hind neck and rump are bluish-grey, usually with a white streak near the shaft of each rump feather.
What the Fieldfare sounds like
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in United States, India, Egypt, Tunisia, St. Pierre & Miquelon, Lebanon.
When to see it
Best months: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, September, October, November, December, with peak activity in June. It is a resident species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Fieldfare?
- The fieldfare is easily recognisable with its slate-grey head, nape and rump, dark brown back, blackish tail and boldly speckled breast. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Fieldfare?
- The Fieldfare is a medium sized bird weighing about 106 g.
- Where can you see a Fieldfare?
- The Fieldfare occurs in 74 countries, including Sweden, Norway, Finland, Germany and the United Kingdom.
- What does a Fieldfare sound like?
- You can listen to 3 field recordings of the Fieldfare on this page, contributed to xeno-canto under open licences.
- What birds look similar to a Fieldfare?
- The Fieldfare is most easily confused with the Redwing, the Song Thrush and the Mistle Thrush.
- Is the Fieldfare endangered?
- The Fieldfare is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Fieldfare for real
BeakBrain drills you on photos and calls until you can greet this bird by name in the field. Free to play, on any device.
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