Redwing

Turdus iliacus

Least ConcernCommonOmnivoreForestCup nestMedium · 61 g

About the Redwing

The redwing is a bird in the thrush family, Turdidae, native to Europe and the Palearctic, slightly smaller than the related song thrush.

Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

ID tip

The thrush is 20–24 cm long with a wingspan of 33–34.5 cm and a weight of 50–75 g. The sexes are similar, with plain brown backs and with dark brown spots on the white underparts. The most striking identification features are the red flanks and underwing, and the creamy white stripe above the eye. Adults moult between June and September, which means that some start to replace their flight feathers while still feeding young. Voice: The male has a varied short song, and a whistling flight call. Redwings show a distinct dialectic variation in song, having a considerable similarity in song patterns among birds within a local population. The Redwing song consists of a number of introductory elements of descending or ascending frequency.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

What the Redwing sounds like

Recording: Lionel Triboulin · CC0 · via xeno-canto
Recording: Lionel Triboulin · CC0 · via xeno-canto
Recording: Christian Kahle · CC0 · via xeno-canto

Where it lives

Regular rangeRare visitor

Recorded as a rare visitor in United States, Libya, Tajikistan, Egypt, Tunisia, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Gibraltar, Liechtenstein.

When to see it

Peak activity in June · a resident species across most of its range

Easily confused with

Side by side: Common Blackbird vs Redwing · Redwing vs Song Thrush · Fieldfare vs Redwing · Redwing vs Wood Thrush · Mistle Thrush vs Redwing · Clay-colored Thrush vs Redwing

Learn the Redwing 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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