Fieldfare
Key facts
Scientific name: Turdus pilaris
Status: Winter visitor, rare breeder
Breeding birds: 1 – 2 pairs
Wintering birds: 720,000
Conservation status: Red
Length: 25 cm
Wingspan: 39 – 42 cm
Weight: 80 – 120 g
Description
Fieldfares are large thrushes. Male and female fieldfares look similar except the female is duller and browner.
Male fieldfares have a blue-grey crown, nape and rump, a chestnut brown back and a black tail. The breast is buff with black speckles and the underwing is white.
Juvenile fieldfares are duller without a grey head.
Nesting
Fieldfares build cup-shaped nests from grass, moss and twigs and lined with mud.
The eggs are smooth and glossy and pale blue with reddish speckles. Females incubate the eggs for 11-14 days and the young fledge the nest at 12-16 days.
Feeding
Fieldfares’ diets consist of worms, snails and insects. They will also eat fruit particularly windfalls.
Where to see them
Fieldfares begin to arrive in the UK in October and they begin to return from March. You may see some as late as May.
The can be spotted in the countryside alongside hedges and fields. They may venture into gardens during the winter when snow covers the ground.
Listen
Stein Ø. Nilsen/xeno-canto
Did you know?
Fieldfares will dive-bomb predators who try and approach their nest firing poo at them to keep them away.