Fieldfare
Turdus pilaris
Tap image to enlarge · Wikimedia Commons
Overview
The Fieldfare is a large, handsome thrush from Scandinavia — arriving each autumn in noisy, chuckling flocks. The combination of grey head and rump, chestnut back and spotted orange breast is unmistakeable. In flight the white underwing flashes. They arrive October–November and can remain until March, stripping Hawthorn berries in the dune scrub and then moving to pasture. Fieldfare and Redwing often flock together on the Sefton Coast.
At a Glance
| Order | Passeriformes |
| Family | Turdidae |
| Habitat | Farmland · Hedgerow with berries · Dune scrub · Open grass |
| Diet | Hawthorn berries, fallen apples; earthworms on pasture in wet weather |
| UK population | Winter only; around 720,000 birds; red-listed due to UK breeding collapse |
| Sefton Coast | Regular winter visitor in variable numbers; large flocks in hard winters |
| Conservation | UK Red List |
Where to See It
Farmland and hedgerows around the Sefton Coast. Hawthorn berries in the dune scrub. Flocks with Redwings.
Identification
Large thrush. Grey head, grey rump, chestnut-brown back, black tail, spotted orange-yellow breast. White underwing visible in flight. Flocks call loudly 'chack-chack-chack' in flight.
Viewing & Photography Tips
Check hedgerows with Hawthorn berries in November. Flocks often mixed with Redwings. The 'chack' call is loud and given constantly — you hear them before you see them.
Conservation Status
UK Red List
This species is on the UK Red List for Birds (BoCC5), indicating serious concern about its population decline or unfavourable conservation status. Monitoring this species on the Sefton Coast contributes to national population tracking.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do Fieldfares come from?
UK wintering Fieldfares breed in Scandinavia, Russia and central Europe, arriving in Britain from October after the Scandinavian berry crop fails. In good berry years they may concentrate in Scandinavia longer; in poor years they arrive in the UK earlier and in larger numbers. They leave in March–April to return to breeding grounds.
Related Species
Plan your visit to the Sefton Coast
Marshside RSPB, Formby pinewoods, Ainsdale NNR — practical guides to getting there, what to bring, and the best spots for each season.