Birds · Passeriformes · Turdidae

Fieldfare

Turdus pilaris

Least Concern

The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk. See full glossary

The fieldfare is a large, colourful thrush, with a grey head and rump, a chestnut back and a densely spotted yellowish breast. It breeds in northern and central Europe, often in loose colonies, and in winter arrives in large flocks in the south of the continent, Spain included, where it feeds on berries, olives and fallen fruit. It is notably aggressive in defending the colony.

Weight

80 g – 140 g

Size

22 cm – 27 cm

Lifespan

18 years

Diet

Omnivore

Combines animal and plant food depending on availability.

Activity

Diurnal

Active mainly during the day.

Social structure

Colony

Lives in large concentrations, often for breeding reasons.

Sighting difficulty

Easy

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Fun facts

GeneralThe colony defends its nests by bombarding predators with droppings.
It defends the colony by bombing predators with droppings: several adults dive at a crow or a raptor and fire faeces that mat its plumage, and there are documented cases of raptors left unable to fly.
Unlike almost every other thrush, it breeds in loose colonies of several dozen pairs, and that collective defence is the reason for its success against the crows of the boreal forest.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (bird)
Habitat & environment: Boreal and riverside woodland; fields and olive groves in winter
Sexual maturity: 12 months
Gestation / incubation: 13 days of incubation
Litter / clutch size: 5 eggs

Sources consulted: https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turdus_pilaris