What does the fieldfare look like? And what does she do in winter? We present the choke to you in our profile.
The Fieldfare (Turdus pilaris) has only established itself as a breeding bird in the last few decades. Before that, it was more at home in more northern parts of Europe. Today, however, they can be observed regularly in sparse forests and larger parks. And especially in winter, the fieldfare also searches for food in smaller gardens. During these cold months, the colorful thrush feeds on berries, fruit and fallen fruit. So its name is no coincidence, because the species has long been associated with juniper and its berries in particular. Even their somewhat outdated name "Krammetsvogel" has this origin, because "Krammet" is just an old name for juniper. You can find more exciting information about the Fieldfare in our profile below.
Fieldfare: Profile
| Size | About 25 cm |
| Weight | About 120 g |
| Incubation | March - June |
| Lifetime | Up to 10 years |
| Habitat | Semi-open landscapes, sparse forests, large parks and gardens |
| Food Preference | Earthworms, snails, berries and other fruits |
| Threats | Declining food and natural habitat |
How to recognize the Fieldfare
The fieldfare is similar in size and shape to its more well-known relative, the blackbird. The two species also share the yellow beak. However, there are no other similarities in appearance. Because next to the simple blackbird, the fieldfare is a true blaze of colour. Its grey-blue colored head is crossed by a light stripe over its eyes. The nape of the same color merges into a reddish-brown back and matching elytra. The lower back, also called the rump, is also grey-blue in color and ends in dark tail feathers. The light base is ofblack dots and the chest shines in a strong rusty yellow. Fieldfare males and females are difficult to tell apart from each other visually.
What does the song of the fieldfare sound like?
The singing of the fieldfare cannot compete with the melodic bird call of the blackbird. It's more of a mix of gossip and teasing - with no real structure. Unlike the song, the fieldfare's call is much more distinctive and easy to identify. This sounds like a warning "Check-check-check".
The song of the fieldfare sounds like this:
What does the young Fieldfare look like?
Young fieldfares are easy to spot because they already look very similar to the adults. All the important features are already pronounced, even if the coloring is a little less intense than in the adult birds. In addition, the young birds are characterized by white spots on the elytra. After the first winter, the young thrushes lose their juvenile feathers and show off their adult plumage.
How do you recognize the eggs of the birds?
The eggs of the fieldfare, which are about 3 centimeters in size, are similar to those of the closely related blackbird. They have a blue-green base tone and are sprinkled with reddish-brown speckles. The female lays between five and seven eggs in a cup-shaped nest made of plant stems and leaves, lined with wet soil and padded with fine blades of grass.
What habitat does the fieldfare prefer?
Fieldfares prefer semi-open habitats such as light forests, forest edges and groups of trees in the landscape. But they can also be observed in city parks and large gardens. Since the thrushes forage primarily in the ground, areas with low vegetation or open, moist soil are important when choosing a breeding site.
Where can you find their nests?
Although fieldfares forage near the ground, they build their nests at a safe height in the forks of trees or tall shrubs. The breeding pairs can occur individually, but the thrushes often close togetherColonies of up to 50 pairs together. This community is particularly valuable in defending nests against predators. Cats, corvids and birds of prey are driven away with a lot of noise and veritable flight attacks, during which the fieldfare uses so-called "poop bombs" to scare the attacker off.
When does the fieldfare breed?
The female lays her eggs between March and April and then incubates them for 10 to 13 days. The female takes care of the little nestlings for the first few days, after which both parents bring food regularly. After another 14 to 16 days, the young birds leave the nest and make their first attempts to fly. The parents support the young thrushes in their search for food for about another two weeks, but then the little ones are on their own. It is not uncommon for a second brood to follow the successful rearing of the first young.
What does the fieldfare do in winter?
Fieldfares are short-distance migrants, migrating in winter from northern parts of Europe towards central and southern Europe and the Mediterranean. In the past they were only found here as winter guests, but today they also breed in our latitudes. The pretty thrushes are quite sociable in the cold winter months and often socialize in colorful mixed swarms with starlings or redwings. The birds go looking for food together and like to come into our gardens and help themselves to feeding stations.
How to support fieldfares
If you want to turn your garden into a fieldfare paradise or simply give the native birds a hand and support them in their daily struggle for food and nesting sites, here are some helpful tips and tricks.
What do thrushes feed on?
Fieldfares have a seasonal diet plan. In summer they feed mainly on earthworms and other small animals living on the ground such as snails. Later in the year they switch to fallen fruit, berries and other fruits. If you want to lay out additional food in the cold season, you should therefore stick to this nutrition plan. Many varieties of fruit - and apples in particular - are readily picked up from the ground by the fieldfare.
Which nest boxes are suitable for the Fieldfare?
AsFree breeders prefer fieldfares - as the name suggests - to build their nest outdoors. Therefore, closed nest boxes are not a good idea. These are more suitable for cave breeders such as blue tits or starlings. If you want to try your luck, you should rely on so-called semi-hollow boxes, which have a large entry opening instead of just a small hole.
How can you support fieldfares?
Since nest boxes are not the first choice to support fieldfares, more focus should be placed on creating natural nest sites. High hedges and well-branched trees are a must for any fieldfare nest. And those who do not have a sufficiently large garden for such structures can concentrate on the food supply. Because in addition to the additional feeding in winter, you can also provide enough food in summer by leaving areas with low vegetation where the thrushes can forage.
Furthermore, he althy soil life is important for the nutrition of the fieldfare, which satisfies the appetites of its offspring and its own primarily with earthworms. With our Plantura organic soil activator you can improve soil life in a sustainable and environmentally friendly way and thus lay a he althy foundation for your garden, your plants and our feathered friends.
In addition to the fieldfare, the blackbird also has other patterned relatives that like to roam around in local gardens. The song thrush, for example, has an even more dotted underside than the fieldfare, but a rather plain upper side without blue-grey color elements. Get to know this garden bird and its many other characteristics in our species portrait.