Fieldfares in Scotland
When the Fieldfare (Turdus pilaris) is present in Scotland, when it nests, and which native Scotland plants supply the food it depends on.
- Status in Scotland
- Winter visitor
- Nesting season
- Does not breed here
- Size
- 25.5 cm, 100 g
- Delivery
- Perch Supply ships to the UK
When to expect fieldfares in Scotland
The Fieldfare reaches Scotland for the winter from breeding grounds further north and east. Short days and regular snow inland; Scandinavian Bramblings, Fieldfares and Waxwings often arrive in numbers.
Winter visitor; a handful have bred.
Cool maritime in the west, more continental and drier in the east; the Highlands are markedly colder.
Native Scotland plants for fieldfares
Of the native plants we track for Scotland, 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 Scotland all year?
No. The Fieldfare is a winter visitor to Scotland and breeds further north or east. Winter visitor; a handful have bred.
Which native plants help fieldfares in Scotland?
Hawthorn, Rowan, Holly, Ivy, Elder, Blackthorn, Dog rose, Guelder rose are native to Scotland and provide food or cover the Fieldfare uses.
Fieldfares in other countries
Other garden birds in Scotland
Sources
- Fieldfare — RSPB bird guide
- Fieldfare — BTO BirdFacts
- Bird Atlas 2007–11 — British Trust for Ornithology
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.