Gallery - Thrushes, Chats and Allies

Singing night birds

BTO video on Nightingale and other night time singers

Thrushes (Turdidae)

This large family contains several birds that are well-known garden visitors. They feed mainly on berries and other fruits and insects, but are often seen looking for worms.

Blackbird (Turdus merula)

Some actions of a Blackbird are particularly characteristic, such as raising its tail on landing or turning over dead leaves under trees and shrubs as it searches for worms and other insects. It also eats fruit especially berries. The nest is built in a tree or bush.

Blackbird and Ring Ouzel

BTO video about Blackbirds and Ring Ouzel

Ring Ouzel (Turdus torquatus)

The Ring Ouzel has been classified as a Red list bird-High conservation concern.

A mountain blackbird found on open moors etc in the summer. In the autumn migrates to North Africa.

Fieldfare (Turdus pilaris)

The Fieldfare is a Amber list species-Medium consevation concern.

A large thrush of northan woodlands that moves south in winter,feeds on insects and fruits. Often seen in flocks with other thrushes such as Redwings.

Redwing and Fieldfare

BTO video about Redwing and Fieldfare

Redwing (Turdus iliacus)

The Redwing has been classified as a Amber list species-medium conservation concern.

This small thrush of northern woodlands migrates southwest in autumn. In winter it feeds on berries or searches for worms on areas of short grass.it is vulnerable to extreme cold and will move to find milder feeding conditions in cold weather. The nest is on the ground or in a bush.

Song Thrush (Turdus philomelos)

The Song Thrush is classed as a Red List Species-High Conservation Concern.

Many species eat snails, but only the Song Thrush methodically hammers open the larger ones,often using the same stone or other hard object. It also eats other insects and fruits. It lives where there are trees or bushes and open grassland. Nests in trees and shrubs.

Song and Mistle Thrushes

BTO video about Song and Mistle Thrush

Mistle Thrush (Turdus viscivorus)

The Mistle Thrush is listed as a Amber List Species-medium conservation concern. This bulky, upright thrush likes open woodland or parkland ut forms flocks in late summer. It eats invertebrates and fruit.

American Robin (Turdus migratorius)

Transatlantic vagrant. The American Robin's breeding habitat is woodland and more open farmland and urban areas. It breeds only rarely in the southern United States and there prefers large shade trees on lawns.Its winter habitat is similar but includes more open areas.

Redstarts (Phoenicurus)

Robin like birds with rufous tail, voice and behaviour generally chat like.

Redstart (Phoenicurus phoenicurus)

The Redstart is a Amber List Species-medium conservation concern.

The Redstart is a summer visiter to open woodlands and parkland, in some places has moved into towns. It mainly eats insects.

Common and Black Redstarts

BTO video about Redstarts

Black Redstart (Phoenicurus ochruros)

The Black Redstart is a Amber list species-Medium Conservation Concern.

This Robin sized bird is at home in busy town centres and industrial areas where it will sing from roof tops.

Eastern Black Redstart (Phoenicurus Ochruros Phoenicurides)

Vagrant from Central Asia, less than 10 records in Britain.

Chats (Saxicola)

Small and robin like, with habit of perching upright on prominent lookout, often flicking tail jerkily and uttering harsh chacking note.

Stonechat (Saxicola torquata)

The Stonechat has been classified as a Amber list species-medium conservation concern.

Stonechats require grassy areas for feeding,dense cover for nesting where they nest close to the ground and sutable perches or song posts. They eat insects.

Whinchat (Saxicola rubetra)

A small summer migrant to central and northan Europe which winters in tropical Africa. It feeds on insects and seeds,it lives in open country with meadows or other grasslands young plantations,railway or roadside verges. Nests on the ground among vegitation

Wheatears (Oenanthe)

Small songbirds, robin like in appearance but Chat like in habits and open country habitat.

Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe)

A long distance traveler from Africa. Breeds in open country with bare areas such as rocky slopes,scree,tundra,cliff tops,moors and dunes.Birds nest in holes,crevices or burrows.

Desert Wheatear (Oenanthe deserti)

Vagrant from Europe, normally less than 150 a year.

Allies-Bluethroat, Nightingale and Robin

Bits and bobs of this group