Fieldfare

2007 Schools Wikipedia Selection. Related subjects: Birds

iFieldfare
Conservation status
Least Concern (LC)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Passeriformes Family: Turdidae Genus: Turdus Species: T. pilaris
Binomial name
Turdus pilaris Linnaeus, 1758

The Fieldfare (Turdus pilaris) is a member of the thrush family Turdidae.

It breeds in woodland and scrub in northern Europe and Asia. It is strongly migratory, with many northern birds moving south during the winter. It is a very rare breeder in Great Britain and Ireland, but winters in large numbers in these countries.

It nests in trees, laying several eggs in a neat nest. Unusually for a thrush, they often nest in small colonies, possibly for protection from large crows. Migrating birds and wintering birds often form large flocks, often with Redwings.

The Fieldfare is a large thrush. It is omnivorous, eating a wide range of insects and earthworms in summer, and berries in winter.

The sexes are similar, with plain brown backs and grey rump and rear head. Underwings are white. Underparts are spotted, with a reddish wash to the breast.

The male has a simple chattering song, and a chattering flight and alarm call.

Its name derives from the Anglo-Saxon feld-fere meaning traveller through the fields, probably named so for their constantly moving, foraging habits.

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