Redwing singing (1 Viewer)

Gerry Hooper · Mar 13, 2013

Walking the dog in the lanes behind Starcross (Devon) there was a Redwing in full song.Sounded like a song thrush in tone but the tune was a lot more wibbly warbly. Never heard it before , how common is it for them to sing away from breeding areas?
Maybe this weathfer stopped it from moving north and it needed to shout about it.Sorry about the f in weather.

James Emerson · Mar 13, 2013

On 6th March 2010 I found a singing Redwing near UEA (Norwich). Having never heard them sing before I wasn't sure what it was until I located the bird in a nearby hedge. I went and did a bit of research, and it seems that this singing in Britain in late spring is a recognised occurrence, although not that common. I haven't heard one since, despite seeing several as late as the first week of April.

Gerry Hooper said:
Walking the dog in the lanes behind Starcross (Devon) there was a Redwing in full song.Sounded like a song thrush in tone but the tune was a lot more wibbly warbly. Never heard it before , how common is it for them to sing away from breeding areas?
Maybe this weathfer stopped it from moving north and it needed to shout about it.Sorry about the f in weather.

saluki · Mar 13, 2013

James Emerson said:
On 6th March 2010 I found a singing Redwing near UEA (Norwich). Having never heard them sing before I wasn't sure what it was until I located the bird in a nearby hedge. I went and did a bit of research, and it seems that this singing in Britain in late spring is a recognised occurrence, although not that common. I haven't heard one since, despite seeing several as late as the first week of April.

Was it the full song or a simpler, quieter sub-song? I've heard Redwing singing their full song in Sutherland in summer, but in winter it's always been the sub-song. I've heard Redwing and Fieldfare sing communally on occasion in the UK (though the latter species only a couple of times), again each bird seems to use a quieter sub-song, the collective sound is beautiful however. Sunny, still late mornings/afternoons in early spring seem best.

Cheers
Jonathan

midlands birder · Mar 14, 2013

A flock of around 50 Redwing were sub-singing fairly regularly over the past few months on my patch. Creates quite a nice little chourus
Only ever heard Redwing propperly going for it once in the UK, which was in May, again, on my patch.
MB

James Emerson · Mar 14, 2013

I'm not sure to be honest. At that point I hadn't heard Redwing full or sub-song, so I didn't consciously assign it to one or the other, I just noted that a Redwing was singing, and I didn't think I heard one do that here before.

Regards,
James

saluki said:
Was it the full song or a simpler, quieter sub-song? I've heard Redwing singing their full song in Sutherland in summer, but in winter it's always been the sub-song. I've heard Redwing and Fieldfare sing communally on occasion in the UK (though the latter species only a couple of times), again each bird seems to use a quieter sub-song, the collective sound is beautiful however. Sunny, still late mornings/afternoons in early spring seem best.

Cheers
Jonathan

Gerry Hooper · Mar 14, 2013

Full song, audible from a good distance.

Redwing singing (1 Viewer)

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Gerry Hooper

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James Emerson

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saluki

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midlands birder

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James Emerson

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Gerry Hooper

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