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Redwing Turdus iliacus   [Linnaeus, 1766]
Other Names Trends & Distribution Breeding & Survival Biometrics Books & Links

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Order: Passeriformes Family: Turdidae
BTO Codes: RE, REDWI EURING No: 12010
Number in Britain: 650 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)  Migrant Breeder, Passage/Winter Visitor
Subspecies: iliacus (BW), coburni (BW) recorded in Britain (of 2 subsp. in the world)
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Length: 21 cm Wingspan: 34 cm Weight: M/F: 63 g    
Scientific name from: L.: turdus=a thrush and L.: iliacus=of the flanks (from ile=flank)
World Distribution: BREEDS: n Eurasia, WINTERS: south to s Europe
Habitat: Northern forest & tundra scrub
Diet: Invertebrates, also berries in autumn and winter
TitBit: Redwings are a classic night-time migrant, listen out on dark clear autumn and early winter nights, particularly in the east of the country, and you are likely to hear the thin 'tseep' of migrating Redwing overhead.  

Population and Distribution

Population Trend: No population trend available
Distribution: Atlas Maps    (Local Atlases)   
British Population Size:
    Winter: 650 thousand individuals in 1981-84     Note: Best estimate
    First Record: c. 1600 [Fossil evidence from Devensian (last) glaciation, 10-120,000 yr ago]
    First Breeding Record: Moray 1932
    Latest Survey: Holling, M. & RBBP 2011 British Birds 104:476-537
    Conservation Status: RED because Recent Breeding Population Decline (1969-2007),
   Previous Assessments: 2002-2007 AMBER     1996-2001 AMBER  
   Races of Concern: iliacus RED (Recent Decline), coburni GREEN
Habitat Occupancy (in the Breeding Season):
    No habitat data from BBS
European Population Size:
    Summer: 4 to 6 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: 26 x 19 mm Egg Weight: 4.9 g (of which 5 % is shell)
Number of Nest Records: 1
Clutch Size: 4 - 5 eggs
Incubation: 11- 15 days   by the: Female
Fledging: 10 - 15days as: Altricial, downy
First Clutches Laid: Unavailable
Number of Broods: 2
Number Ringed: 4080 (Annual Totals)
Adult Survival: 0.430       
Juvenile Survival: No data
Age at First Breeding: 1 year Typical Lifespan: 2 years
Maximum Recorded Age: 11 years 10 months 7 days (set in 1988)
Summary of Ringing Recoveries       

Biometrics
Ring Size: CC
Wing Length Adult: 119.5 ± 3.4 Range 114 - 125 mm, N =9961
Juvenile: 119.0 ± 3.2 114 - 125 mm, N =10338
Male: 122.3 ± 2.0 119 - 125 mm, N =75
Female: 115.0 ± 2.2 112 - 120 mm, N =31
Weight Adult: 65.72 ± 8.16 Range 54.00 - 81.00 g , N =8150
Juvenile: 63.82 ± 8.18 51.00 - 78.00 g , N =8404
Male: 66.59 ± 7.79 55.00 - 84.00 g , N =52
Female: 62.10 ± 7.05 50.00 - 70.00 g , N =26
Source:
British Trust for Ornithology (2005) Ringing Scheme data

Other Names
 
Gaelic: Smeňrach-an-t-sneachda Welsh: Coch Dan-aden
Danish: Vindrossel Dutch: Koperwiek
Finnish: Punakylkirastas French: Grive mauvis
German: Rotdrossel Hungarian: Szolorigó
Icelandic: Skógarţröstur Irish: Deargán Sneachta
Italian: Tordo sassello Norwegian: Rřdvingetrost
Polish: Drozdzik Portuguese: Tordo-ruivo-comum
Spanish: Zorzal alirrojo Swedish: Rödvingetrast

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
State of the Nations Birds by Chris Mead