Ring Ouzel Turdus torquatus   [Linnaeus, 1758]

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   Page updated:16-January-2013

Order: Passeriformes Family: Turdidae
BTO Codes: RZ, RINOU EURING No: 11860
Number in Britain: 6900 pairs (Summer)
Conservation Status:
UK: RED
European: Not a species of concern
Global: (Details)
Links to: Images   Videos   Sound  
Tips on  Identification
Status in UK: (A)  Migrant Breeder, Passage Visitor
Subspecies: torquatus recorded in Britain (of 3 subsp. in the world)
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Length: 24 cm Wingspan: 40 cm Weight: M/F: 110 g    
Scientific name from: L.: turdus=a thrush and L.: torquis=a collar
World Distribution: BREEDS: Locally in Europe & near East, WINTERS: south to n Africa & Middle East
Habitat: Open moorland
Diet: Spring, early summer insects and earthworms, other times mainly fruit

Population and Distribution

Population Trend: BirdTrends   
Regional Trends: No regional trends available
Distribution: Atlas Maps   
British Population Size:
    Summer: 6157 to 7549 pairs in 1999
    First Record: Recorded in Medieval times
    Latest Survey: Wotton, S.R. et al. (2002) Bird Study 49:26-34
    Conservation Status: RED because Recent Breeding Population Decline (1981-2007),
   Previous Assessments: 2002-2007 RED     1996-2001 AMBER  
   Races of Concern: torquatus RED (Recent Decline)
Habitat Occupancy (in the Breeding Season):
    No habitat data from BBS
Migration routes: Map of foreign ringing recoveries  and summary map from Time to Fly (in pop-up windows)
Average Day of First Arrival: 28 Mar
European Population Size:
    Summer: 185 to 570 thousand pairs
Population Assesment from Birds in Europe
Distribution in Europe mapped by the EBCC Atlas
Listed on the Appendices/Schedules of: Bern(III), Bonn(II)
Survey Results: Results from BirdTrack
Results from Ring Ouzel Study Group

Breeding and Survival

Egg Size: 30 x 22 mm Egg Weight: 7.4 g (of which 6 % is shell)
Number of Nest Records: 45   (more would be welcome!)
Clutch Size: 4 eggs 4.00 ± 0.51 (2 - 6) N = 305
Incubation: 13 days 13.18 ± 0.57 (12.5 - 14.5) N = 305   by the: Male + Female
Fledging: 14 - 14days 13.71 ± 0.57 (12.5 - 14.5) N = 738 as: Altricial, downy
Source:
British Trust for Ornithology (2005) Nest Record Scheme data
First Clutches Laid: 4 May (19 Apr - 8 Jun)
Number of Broods: 1-2
See trends in Breeding Productivity
Number Ringed: Annual Totals
Adult Survival: 0.420 ± 0.010    (M:0.470 ± 0.020; F:0.370 ± 0.020)      
Juvenile Survival: 0.360 (in First-Year)  
Age at First Breeding: 1 year Typical Lifespan: 2 years
Maximum Recorded Age: 6 years 5 months 23 days (set in 1980)
Read a summary of Ringing Recoveries

Biometrics

Ring Size: C
Wing Length Adult: 143.4 ± 3.6     Range 133.0 - 152.0 mm, (N = 139)
Juvenile: 142.5 ± 3.7     Range 124.0 - 152.0 mm, (N = 394)
Male: 145.0 ± 3.1     Range 136.0 - 152.0 mm, (N = 75)
Female: 141.4 ± 2.8     Range 134.0 - 150.0 mm, (N = 62)
Weight Adult: 105.8 ± 11.59 Range 75.00 - 143.0 g , (N =127)
Juvenile: 104.0 ± 9.6 Range 81.1 - 134.5 . , (N =361)
Male: 106.3 ± 12.26 Range 75.00 - 140.0 g , (N =66)
Female: 105.3 ± 10.71 Range 78.00 - 143.0 g , (N =59)
Seasonal: Summer 104.6 ± 10.63 (N = 57)   Autumn 108.9 ± 9.79 (N = 125)  
Source: British Trust for Ornithology (2005) Ringing Scheme data

Other Names

 
Gaelic: Lňn-monaidh Welsh: Mwyalchen y Mynydd
Danish: Ringdrossel Dutch: Beflijster
Finnish: Sepelrastas French: Merle ŕ plastron
German: Ringdrossel Hungarian: Örvös rigó
Icelandic: Mánaţröstur Irish: Lon Creige
Italian: Merlo dal collare Norwegian: Ringtrost
Polish: Drozd obrozny Portuguese: Merlo-de-peito-branco
Spanish: Mirlo capiblanco Swedish: Ringtrast

For More Information...

Books and Monographs:
   Simms, E. 1978 British Thrushes Collins, London [598.911 SIM]
See Also:
Find scientific papers on Google Scholar or Scirus by clicking the icon
Wikipedia entry
BirdLife species page
Recent sightings and information from BirdGuides
Read State of the Nations Birds by Chris Mead