ID Keys: Gray head, brown back, orange-buffy wash on breast, spotted
breast and flanks
The
Fieldfare is a Eurasian thrush species that is very similar in overall
structure to the American Robin.
They are named after the Anglo-Saxon word "fieldware" which translates as
"traveler of the fields". They breed in central Europe and
Scandanavia, eastward through Asia. They are vagrants in North
America, but have been found a number of times, in a variety of locations.
The majority of North American sightings are in eastern Canada and the
northeastern U.S. However, they have also been found a handful of
times in Alaska, and more rarely, in the interior of the continent.
One was once found in Minnesota, and another in Montana.
Habitat
The Fieldfare inhabits open woodlands, forest edges, parks, orchards, farmland, and areas with scattered trees and shrubs. During the breeding season, it favors boreal forests, birch woodlands, and mixed woodland habitats, often near open feeding areas. In winter, Fieldfares commonly gather in fields, pastures, hedgerows, and berry-rich countryside where food is abundant.
Diet
The Fieldfare feeds on a variety of insects, earthworms, and other invertebrates during the breeding season. In autumn and winter, its diet shifts heavily toward berries and fruits, including rowan, hawthorn, juniper, and other berry-producing plants. It typically forages on the ground in fields and grasslands or feeds directly from shrubs and trees bearing fruit.
Behavior
Fieldfares are often very gregarious, particularly outside of the breeding season. They may form relatively large foraging flocks in migration and winter, often joining other birds such as other thrushes and starlings. Foraging is primarily done by hopping along the ground pausing periodically as they search for food.
Nesting
The nest of a Fieldfare is a cup, constructed of grasses, twigs, moss, and other vegetative material, often bound together by mud. The female lays between 4 and 6 eggs, and she alone incubates them. The eggs hatch after about 2 weeks, and both parents help feed and raise the young.
Song
The Fieldfare is a rather noisy thrush with a variety of harsh, chattering calls often described as chack-chack-chack or rattling notes. Its song is less musical than that of many other thrushes, consisting of a mixture of warbles, squeaks, and chatter given from perches during the breeding season. Alarm calls are loud and distinctive, especially when birds are defending nesting colonies.
Migration
Considered migratory in most of their range, but some often do stay near breeding locations for the entire year. In Europe, most Scandanavian birds stay for the winter, but some move southward and westward. In the United Kingdom, they are only very rare breeders, but may be present in good numbers in winter. They are rather nomadic and unpredictable at times, staying in one location as long as adequate foraging is present (such as berries). Once berries and other food sources become depleted, they're likely to move on to a new location.
In North America, it's most likely to be confused with American Robin . The spotted, pale underparts distinguish it from the Robin, but young American Robins have spots and may look relatively similar to a Fieldfare.
