Fieldfares in Germany
When the Fieldfare (Turdus pilaris) is present in Germany, when it nests, and which native Germany plants supply the food it depends on.
- Status in Germany
- Resident all year
- Nesting season
- May–July
- Size
- 25.5 cm, 100 g
- Nest box
- Does not use enclosed boxes
When to expect fieldfares in Germany
The Fieldfare lives in Germany all year round. Colder in the east and south; feeders are widely used and garden-bird counts are a national tradition.
Temperate, becoming more continental towards the east and south, with Alpine climate in Bavaria.
Nesting in Germany
In Germany the Fieldfare usually nests May–July. Nest site: loose colonies in birch and conifer woods. Clutches are 5–6 eggs, incubated for 10–13 days; chicks fledge after 12–16 days, and pairs raise 1–2 per year.
- The Fieldfare does not use enclosed nest boxes — dense native shrubs and climbers give it nest sites.
- Avoid cutting hedges during the nesting season (roughly March to August) — in the UK, disturbing an active nest is an offence under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
Native Germany plants for fieldfares
Of the native plants we track for Germany, these 8 provide food the Fieldfare uses:
Haws feed thrushes all winter; spring blossom supports hundreds of insect species.
Orange-red berries are a magnet for Blackbirds, thrushes and Waxwings from August.
Evergreen roosting cover and winter berries on female plants.
Late-winter berries when little else is left, plus dense nesting cover.
Late-summer berries taken by Blackcaps and thrushes.
Thorny cover that protects nests; early blossom for insects.
Hips persist into winter for thrushes and finches.
Translucent red berries in autumn.
Feeding in the garden
Berries and fallen fruit in winter; invertebrates in summer.
- Best foods: Apples (whole or halved), Soaked sultanas.
- Feeders: Ground tray.
- Fieldfares come into gardens only in snow; windfall apples are the best offering.
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked
Are fieldfares in Germany all year?
Yes — the Fieldfare is resident in Germany all year.
When do fieldfares nest in Germany?
Typically May–July. Clutches are 5–6 eggs, incubated for 10–13 days, with 1–2 per year.
Which native plants help fieldfares in Germany?
Hawthorn, Rowan, Holly, Ivy, Elder, Blackthorn, Dog rose, Guelder rose are native to Germany and provide food or cover the Fieldfare uses.
Fieldfares in other countries
Other garden birds in Germany
Sources
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.