Turdus torquatus
The Ring Ouzel is a striking thrush with a distinctive white crescent on its breast. Males are predominantly black with silvery-grey wing edges, while females are browner with a less prominent breast band.
Females are similar to female Blackbirds but have a creamy crescent-shaped bib, smaller than the males. Both sexes have brownish-yellow bills and grey-brown legs.
Juveniles resemble females but have scaly patterns on their upperparts. During winter, both sexes develop pale fringes on their feathers, giving them a more mottled appearance.
From a distance, they can resemble Blackbirds, but Ring Ouzels are smaller and have longer tails.
Length
23cm to 24cm
Wingspan
38cm to 42cm
Weight
90g to 138g
Woodland
Garden
Wetland
Coastal
Urban
Farmland
Grassland
Desert
Tundra
Rainforest
Mountain
Savanna
Ring Ouzels inhabit mountainous regions across Europe and Asia, favouring open, rocky areas with scattered vegetation. They breed in upland areas of Scandinavia, the UK, and central Europe.
During winter, they migrate to the Mediterranean region and North Africa. In the UK, they are summer visitors found in upland areas of Scotland, northern England, and Wales.
Dartmoor, north-west Wales, northern England and the north of Scotland offer the best chances of seeing a temporary resident Ring Ouzel. At the same time, along the east and southern coasts, migration passage sightings are recorded each spring and autumn.
Up to 3,000 meters
Temperate, Subarctic
This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Ring Ouzel. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.
A few things to keep in mind:
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