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Fieldfare Turdus pilaris   [Linnaeus, 1758]
Other Names Trends & Distribution Breeding & Survival Biometrics Books & Links

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Order: Passeriformes Family: Turdidae
BTO Codes: FF, FIELD EURING No: 11980
Number in Britain: 680 thousand birds (Winter)
Conservation Status:
UK: RED
European: Not a species of concern(Winte
Global: Least Concern ( Details )
Links to: Images   Videos   Sound  
Status in UK: (A)  Scarce Breeder, Passage/Winter Visitor
Subspecies: Monotypic
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Length: 26 cm Wingspan: 40 cm Weight: M/F: 100 g    
Scientific name from: L.: turdus=a thrush and L.: pilus=hair (from misreading of Gr.: trikhas=thrush and trikhos=hair
World Distribution: BREEDS: n&c Eurasia, WINTERS: south to n Africa
Habitat: Forest, woodland, towns
Diet: Invertebrates and fruit (esp. in winter)
TitBit: The fieldfare is particularly pugnacious in defending its nest against egg-thieves - often by bombarding them its faeces, smaller birds often nest close by to benefit from some extra protection.  

Population and Distribution

Population Trend: No population trend available
Distribution: No distribution maps available
British Population Size:
    Winter: 680 thousand individuals in 1981-84     Note: Best estimate
    Summer: 1 to 4 pairs in 1998-02
    First Record: 11th Century [Fossil evidence from
    First Breeding Record: Orkney 1967
    Conservation Status: RED because Recent Breeding Population Decline (1969-2007),
   Previous Assessments: 2002-2007 AMBER     1996-2001 AMBER  
   Races of Concern:
Habitat Occupancy (in the Breeding Season):
    No habitat data from BBS
European Population Size:
    Summer: 4 to 7 million pairs   (Trend in Numbers)
Population Assesment from Birds in Europe
Distribution in Europe
Listed on the Appendices/Schedules of: WCA(I,IV), WBD(II*), Bern(III), Bonn(II)
Survey Results: BirdTrack
Garden BirdWatch
Winter Farmland Bird Survey

Breeding and Survival
Egg Size: 29 x 21 mm Egg Weight: 6.8 g (of which 5 % is shell)
Number of Nest Records: 0
Clutch Size: 5 - 6 eggs
Incubation: 11- 14 days   by the: Female
Fledging: 12 - 16days as: Altricial, downy
First Clutches Laid: Unavailable
Number of Broods: 1-2
Number Ringed: 1012 (Annual Totals)
Adult Survival: 0.410       
Juvenile Survival: 0.310 (in First-Year)  
Age at First Breeding: 1 year Typical Lifespan: 2 years
Maximum Recorded Age: 14 years 8 months 24 days (set in 2010)
Summary of Ringing Recoveries       

Biometrics
Ring Size: C
Wing Length Adult: 148.2 ± 4.2 Range 142 - 155 mm, N =5122
Juvenile: 147.1 ± 4.1 141 - 153 mm, N =2216
Male: 150.2 ± 3.7 144 - 156 mm, N =2259
Female: 146.6 ± 3.9 140 - 153 mm, N =2696
Weight Adult: 109.3 ± 10.68 Range 92.00 - 127.0 g , N =4394
Juvenile: 107.9 ± 10.55 89.60 - 124.0 g , N =1830
Male: 111.2 ± 10.42 94.00 - 127.0 g , N =1920
Female: 107.9 ± 10.61 91.00 - 125.0 g , N =2343
Source:
British Trust for Ornithology (2005) Ringing Scheme data

Other Names
 
Gaelic: Liath-thruisg Welsh: Socan Eira
Danish: Sjagger Dutch: Kramsvogel
Finnish: Räkättirastas French: Grive litorne
German: Wacholderdrossel Hungarian: Fenyörigó
Icelandic: Gráþröstur Irish: Sacán
Italian: Cesena Norwegian: Gråtrost
Polish: Kwiczol Portuguese: Tordo-zornal
Spanish: Zorzal real Swedish: Björktrast

For More Information...
Books and Monographs:
   Norman, D. 1994 The fieldfare Hamlyn, London [598.911 NOR]
   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
State of the Nations Birds by Chris Mead