Thrushes (Turdidae)

Fieldfare

Turdus pilaris

Length
25.5 cm
Weight
100 g
Clutch
5–6 eggs
Incubation
10–13 days
Fledging
12–16 days
Broods
1–2 per year
Nest box
Does not use enclosed boxes

Identification

  • Blue-grey head and rump
  • Chestnut back
  • Heavily spotted, orange-washed breast

Harsh 'chack-chack' in flocks.

Diet and garden feeding

Berries and fallen fruit in winter; invertebrates in summer.

  • Best foods: Apples (whole or halved), Soaked sultanas.
  • Fieldfares come into gardens only in snow; windfall apples are the best offering.

Nesting

Loose colonies in birch and conifer woods.

Fieldfares by country

Sources

  1. Fieldfare — RSPB bird guide
  2. Fieldfare — BTO BirdFacts

Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.