From Opus

Photo by robski
Location: Kent, UK

Turdus pilaris

[edit] Identification

• Grey head
• Brown back
• Grey rump
• Black tail
• Underparts orangey-brown with dark streaks
• Black-tipped yellow bill

[edit] Distribution

Photo by targetman
Lincolnshire

Breeds in north Denmark and across virtually the whole of Scandinavia, and from eastern France and the Alps east across Europe to the Urals. Breeds in very small numbers most years in Scotland and has bred elsewhere in Britain including northern and south-eastern England and in Iceland. First recorded breeding for Bulgaria occurred in 1993. There is also a small breeding population in Greenland.

Birds from most of Scandinavia and north and east Russia are migratory, and those from the remainder of range partially migratory. Winter range includes Iceland, British Isles and southern parts of Sweden and Finland south to the Mediterranean from Iberia to Israel Rarely reaches North-West Africa but regular in Nile Delta.

Vagrants recorded in Svalbard, Bear Island and Jan Mayen, and also Madeira. The Greenland population has been the source of vagrants to north-east USA and Canada.

[edit] Taxonomy

This is a monotypic species^[1].

[edit] Habitat

Breeds in open birch, alder or coniferous woodland, often in damp areas and along rivers. Also in more open, moorland-type habitats with stunted trees and rocky outcrops. On passage and in winter on damp and grassy fields interspersed with small woods and hedgerows. In severe weather often attracted to parks and gardens.

[edit] Behaviour

Highly gregarious during the winter, forming large mixed flocks of winter thrushes.

[edit] Vocalisation

Call: loud chack, chack, chack

[edit] References

1. Clements, JF. 2008. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2008. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019.
2. Birdwatchers Pocket Guide ISBN 1-85732-804-3
3. BF Member observations

• List of references

[edit] External Links