Turdus pilaris
Fieldfare
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.
Length
22cm to 27cm
Wingspan
39cm to 42cm
Weight
80g to 130g
Males and females have similar plumage
Primary Colour
Grey Brown
Secondary Colour
White Black
Beak Colour
Yellow Black
Leg Colour
Brown
Woodland
Garden
Wetland
Coastal
Urban
Farmland
Grassland
Desert
Tundra
Rainforest
Mountain
Savanna
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.
Up to 2,000 meters
Temperate, Subarctic
Hover over the icon next to each attribute for more information.
Tap the icon next to each attribute for more information.
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.
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.
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.
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.
years
The Fieldfare typically lives for 3 to 5 years.
Like all birds, lifespan can be affected by factors including predation, habitat quality, disease, and access to food sources.
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.
Felty-fare, Felty-bird
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.
Your feedback helps us improve our content
No ratings yet - be the first to rate this bird!
Sign in to be the first to review
website: BirdLife International. 2016. Turdus pilaris. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T22708816A87874379.
View sourcereport, 2015: EBCC