Birds and wildlife

Fieldfare

Turdus pilarisGroup: ThrushesUK Conservation status:Red

How to identify

Fieldfares are large, colourful thrushes, much like a Mistle Thrush in size, shape and behaviour. They stand very upright and move forward with purposeful hops. They are very social birds, spending the winter in flocks of anything from ten or twenty to several hundred strong. These straggling, chuckling flocks which roam the UK's countryside are a delightful and attractive part of the winter scene.

Call

Fieldfare

Niels Krabbe / xeno-canto

Key features to look out for

  • Large thrush bigger than a Blackbird (25cm).
  • A blue grey head and rump, brown above and pale and speckled below with a sunset-orange chest patch. 
  • Listen for their chuckling ‘chack-chack' chattering. 
Fieldfare adult perched in rowan tree at sunrise
Fieldfare
Did you know?

They are rather noisy bird, the loud and excited ‘chack-chack’ calls often alert you to their presence, as they explode from a tall hawthorn or pass overhead in search of their next berry-filled bush.

Conservation status

Globally, Fieldfares are listed as ‘least concern’. However, in the UK, our small breeding population of Fieldfares is red-listed on the UK Birds of Conservation Concern following a strong decline between 1996-2019. Research is ongoing to work out the cause of their decline. 

Where and when to see them

Difficulty level - Medium

Fieldfares join mixed flocks with Redwings and can be seen coming into roost together at dusk. Look out for these birds perched at the tops of trees with other thrushes in local parks, countryside and nature reserves. They can be identified by their very ‘upright’ silhouette.  

Key

  1. Resident
  2. Passage
  3. Summer
  4. Winter
* This map is intended as a guide. It shows general distribution rather than detailed, localised populations.
UK distribution map for Fieldfare
  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

Behaviour

Fieldfares are one of our largest thrush species, and just like their dainty Redwing counterparts, are winter visitors on UK shores. These colourful birds start arriving from Scandinavia, Western Russia and Eastern Europe from October. From then, they can be seen roaming our countryside and green spaces in gossiping, berry-hungry flocks until April. 

Despite the size difference and shared love of berries, Fieldfares get along well with Redwings and the species often flock together. 

Fieldfare adult perched in rowan tree on the tip of a branch
Fieldfare
How to identify the UK’s thrushes, including two special winter visitors

Get to know the UK’s thrushes, including the Fieldfares and Redwings that flock here for the winter.

Redwings and Fieldfares are both species of thrush and in this feature, we take a look at these and other thrushes that are found in the UK. Read on to find out more about this fascinating family of birds and for ID tips. 

Fieldfare, perched in rowan tree
Fieldfare
Wing Tips

Brilliant birds, month by month: what to see and where to go.

Key facts