Species Profile

Fieldfare

Turdus pilaris

Quick Facts

Conservation

LCLeast Concern

Lifespan

3–5 years

Length

22–27 cm

Weight

80–130 g

Wingspan

39–42 cm

Migration

Partial migrant

Striking and gregarious, this berry-loving thrush transforms winter fields into bustling social hubs across Europe and beyond.

Also known as: Felty-fare, Felty-bird

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Gallery

Appearance

The Fieldfare is a robust thrush with distinctive grey plumage on its head and rump, contrasting with chestnut-brown wings and back. Its breast is heavily spotted with black, fading to a white belly. The bird has a yellow bill with a dark tip and brown legs.

Both sexes look similar, with juveniles showing a more mottled appearance and less defined head colouration. In winter, the bill darkens to a brownish-yellow.

Identification & Characteristics

Colors

Primary: Grey
Secondary: White
Beak: Yellow
Legs: Brown

Attributes

Agility75/100

Strength60/100

Adaptability80/100

Aggression70/100

Endurance65/100

Understanding Attributes

Rated 0–100 based on research and observation. A score of 50 is average across all bird species. These attributes are relative and don't necessarily indicate superiority.

Habitat & Distribution

Fieldfares breed across northern Europe and Asia, from Scandinavia to eastern Siberia. They prefer open woodland, forest edges, and parkland for nesting. During winter, many migrate south and west, with large numbers reaching the UK, where they inhabit open countryside, orchards, and gardens.

Fieldfares may push further south into southern Europe and occasionally North Africa in harsh winters. Some populations in central Europe are resident year-round.

Distribution

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Where to See This Bird

Explore regional guides for locations where this bird has been recorded.

United Kingdom

Non-breedingJan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Oct, Nov, Dec

Wales

Non-breedingJan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Oct, Nov, Dec

England

Non-breedingJan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Oct, Nov, Dec

Scotland

Non-breedingJan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Oct, Nov, Dec

Cambridgeshire

Non-breedingJan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Oct, Nov, Dec

Rutland

Non-breedingJan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Oct, Nov, Dec

Bedfordshire

Non-breedingJan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Oct, Nov, Dec

Buckinghamshire

Non-breedingJan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Oct, Nov, Dec

Berkshire

Non-breedingJan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Oct, Nov, Dec

Cheshire

Non-breedingJan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Oct, Nov, Dec

Cornwall

Non-breedingJan, Feb, Mar, Oct, Nov, Dec

Cumbria

Non-breedingJan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Oct, Nov, Dec

Derbyshire

Non-breedingJan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Oct, Nov, Dec

Devon

Non-breedingJan, Feb, Mar, Oct, Nov, Dec

Gloucestershire

Non-breedingJan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Oct, Nov, Dec

Dorset

Non-breedingJan, Feb, Mar, Oct, Nov, Dec

Durham

Non-breedingJan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Oct, Nov, Dec

East Riding of Yorkshire

ResidentJan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec

Essex

Non-breedingJan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Oct, Nov, Dec

East Sussex

Non-breedingJan, Feb, Mar, Oct, Nov, Dec

Hampshire

Non-breedingJan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Oct, Nov, Dec

Herefordshire

Non-breedingJan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Oct, Nov, Dec

Hertfordshire

Non-breedingJan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Oct, Nov, Dec

Isle of Wight

Non-breedingJan, Feb, Mar, Oct, Nov, Dec

Kent

Non-breedingJan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Oct, Nov, Dec

Merseyside

Non-breedingJan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Oct, Nov, Dec

Lancashire

Non-breedingJan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Oct, Nov, Dec

Leicestershire

Non-breedingJan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Oct, Nov, Dec

Lincolnshire

Non-breedingJan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Oct, Nov, Dec

London

Non-breedingJan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Oct, Nov, Dec

Manchester

Non-breedingJan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Oct, Nov, Dec

Northumberland

Non-breedingJan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Oct, Nov, Dec

Norfolk

Non-breedingJan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Oct, Nov, Dec

Northamptonshire

Non-breedingJan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Oct, Nov, Dec

Nottinghamshire

Non-breedingJan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Oct, Nov, Dec

North Yorkshire

ResidentJan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Oct, Nov, Dec

Oxfordshire

Non-breedingJan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Oct, Nov, Dec

South Yorkshire

Non-breedingJan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Oct, Nov, Dec

Tyne and Wear

Non-breedingJan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Oct, Nov, Dec

West Midlands

Non-breedingJan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Oct, Nov, Dec

Suffolk

Non-breedingJan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Oct, Nov, Dec

Shropshire

Non-breedingJan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Oct, Nov, Dec

Somerset

Non-breedingJan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Oct, Nov, Dec

Surrey

Non-breedingJan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Oct, Nov, Dec

Staffordshire

Non-breedingJan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Oct, Nov, Dec

Stockton-on-Tees

Non-breedingJan, Feb, Mar, Oct, Nov, Dec

Warwickshire

Non-breedingJan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Oct, Nov, Dec

Wiltshire

Non-breedingJan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Oct, Nov, Dec

West Yorkshire

Non-breedingJan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Oct, Nov, Dec

Worcestershire

Non-breedingJan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Oct, Nov, Dec

West Sussex

Non-breedingJan, Feb, Mar, Oct, Nov, Dec

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Diet

Fieldfares are omnivorous, and their diet varies seasonally. In summer, they primarily consume invertebrates such as earthworms, insects, and snails.

During autumn and winter, they switch to a fruit-based diet, favouring berries from rowan, hawthorn, and juniper trees. These berries are often taken directly from hedges, trees, and bushes, although windfall apples are also a favourite.

Behaviour

Fieldfares are highly social birds, often seen in large flocks during winter. They forage on the ground, hopping and running in search of food.

When alarmed, they give a characteristic 'chack-chack' call and fly off together, displaying their white underwings.

Calls & Sounds

The Fieldfare's call is a harsh, chattering 'chack-chack-chack', often given in flight or when alarmed. Their song heard mainly in breeding areas, is a softer, warbling melody interspersed with clicks and whistles, somewhat reminiscent of a Blackbird but less musical.

Nesting & Breeding

Fieldfares breed from May to July, often in loose colonies for added protection against predators. Males perform display flights and sing to attract mates. Nests are typically built in tree forks or on branches, constructed with grass, moss, and mud.

Females lay 5-6 pale blue eggs with brown speckles. Both parents share incubation duties, which last about 13 days. The chicks are altricial and remain in the nest for another 12-15 days before fledging.

Fieldfares are known for their aggressive nest defence, often mobbing potential predators and even spraying faeces at intruders.

Conservation

While the Fieldfare is currently listed as Least Concern, it faces threats from habitat loss due to agricultural intensification and climate change. Conservation efforts focus on maintaining suitable breeding habitats and protecting important European wintering grounds.

LCLeast Concern

^[1]

Population

Estimated: 71,000,000 - 143,000,000 mature individuals^[3]

Trend: Stable^[2]

Elevation

Up to 2,000 meters

Additional Details

Predators:: Main predators include birds of prey such as Sparrowhawks and Goshawks, as well as mammals like foxes and martens. Domestic cats can also pose a threat in urban and suburban areas.

Birdwatching Tips

Look for large flocks in open fields during winter
Listen for their distinctive 'chack-chack' alarm call
Observe their habit of suddenly flying up from the ground when disturbed
In the UK, check berry-laden trees and hedgerows in autumn and winter

Did You Know?

Fieldfares can form winter flocks of up to 10,000 individuals.
Their scientific name, Turdus pilaris, refers to their round shape and hair-like feathers.
In severe weather, Fieldfares have been known to seek shelter in abandoned buildings or dense vegetation.