Fieldfare

Taxobox
name = Fieldfare
status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1
status_ref =IUCN2007|assessors=BirdLife International|year=2004|id=51605|title= Turdus_pilaris|downloaded= 2 February 2008 Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern]


image_width = 250px
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Aves
ordo = Passeriformes
familia = Turdidae
genus = "Turdus"
species = "T. pilaris"
binomial = "Turdus pilaris"
binomial_authority = Linnaeus, 1758

The Fieldfare ("Turdus pilaris") is a member of the thrush family Turdidae. This species was first described by Linnaeus in his "Systema naturae" in 1758 under its current scientific name. [la icon cite book | last=Linnaeus | first=C | authorlink=Carolus Linnaeus | title=Systema naturae per regna tria naturae, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis. Tomus I. Editio decima, reformata. | publisher=Holmiae. (Laurentii Salvii). | date=1758| quote = T. rectricibus nigris : extimis margine interiore apice albicantibus, capite uropygioque cano. |pages=168] Its English name, dating back to at least the twelfth century, derives from the Anglo-Saxon "feld-fere" meaning "traveller through the fields", probably from their constantly moving, foraging habits.cite web|title= Fieldfare|work= |url= http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fieldfare |publisher= Merriam-Webster | accessdate=2008-02-02]

It breeds in woodland and scrub in northern Europe and Asia. It is strongly migratory, with many northern birds moving south during the winter. It is a very rare breeder in Great Britain and Ireland, but winters in large numbers in these countries.

It nests in trees, laying several eggs in a neat nest. Unusually for a thrush, they often nest in small colonies, possibly for protection from large crows. Migrating birds and wintering birds often form large flocks, often with Redwings.

It is omnivorous, eating a wide range of insects and earthworms in summer, and berries in winter.

The Fieldfare is 22-27 cm long, with a plain brown back, white underwings, and grey rump and rear head. The breast has a reddish wash, and the rest of the underparts are White. The breast and flanks are heavily spotted. The sexes are similar,

The male has a simple chattering song, and a chattering flight and alarm call.

tatus

The Fieldfare has an extensive range, estimated at 10 million square kilometres (3.8 million square miles), and a large population, including an estimated 28 to 48 million individuals in Europe alone. The species is not believed to approach the thresholds for the population decline criterion of the IUCN Red List (i.e., declining more than 30% in ten years or three generations), and is therefore evaluated as Least Concern.

References

Photos

References

* Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern

External links