Redwing

A thrush that is a winter migrant to the United Kingdom

Photo by Andreas Trepte. Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.5 Generic licence

The Redwing (Turdus iliacus) is the smallest common thrush in northern Europe. It migrates to the south and west of mainland Europe, as well as the United Kingdom, towards the end of October and early November, returning at the end of March. Its favourite wintering haunts are in open woodland, but as the weather becomes harder it moves closer to human habitation to feed on fallen fruit in orchards and berries from the hedgerows and shrubberies. At other times the diet consists mainly of worms, snails, insects and insect larvae.

It is very similar to the Song Thrush (Turdus philomelos), but is distinguished by the chestnut-red flanks and underwing and a prominent creamy-white eyestripe. The breast is buff streaked with brown and not spotted as in the Song Thrush. The upper parts are a uniform brown, the bill dark brown and the legs a yellowish brown. Both sexes and juveniles have similar plumage. It measures up to 210mm in length. Redwings either hop or run and the flight is direct as in the Song Thrush.

Out of the breeding season, the Redwing is highly gregarious, moving around in the company of Fieldfares (Turdus pilaris).

The song is not heard very often and tends to vary somewhat. Typically it consists of a phrase of four to six flute-like notes, “trui-trui-trui-trui-trui-trui”, interspersed and followed by a weak warbling subsong.

In flight, particularly during night migration, the distinctive but thin “see-ip” call is given. Care must be taken in identifying night-migrating Redwings by this call as both Blackbird (Turdus merula) and Song Thrush have similar calls but they are less sibilant and higher pitched. Other calls are a soft “chup”, and, when alarmed, a harsh “chittuck”.

The Redwing breeds mainly in northern Europe but its range has expanded south and westwards. Nests are built from early March, usually situated in trees and bushes but often old tree stumps and woodpiles are used. The nesting habitat varies from open birch scrub to thick coniferous forest. In arctic tundra they are even found on the ground and often close to Fieldfare nesting colonies. The cup-shaped nest is constructed of twigs, roots and pieces of plant bonded together and lined with mud and fine grasses. From four to six eggs are laid. They are pale creamy green in colour with fine red-brown speckles becoming denser at the larger end.

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