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Redwing
(Turdus iliacus)
: "Red-wing", "Red-winged Thrush"
 German name(s): "Rotdrossel"
Size: 20-24 cm; wing span: 33-34.5 cm
Weight: 50-75 g
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Similar
species |
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Physical description |
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 Click here for a physical description
Redwings are small
Eurasian thrushes.
Their plumage
is cryptic
and the two sexes look alike.
The front has a white base (throat, central belly, vent and
undertail coverts), with extensive dark brownish-grey
streaking down the chest and belly.
Their name-giving feature is a pair of rusty-red patches on
the sides (which, however, are NOT parts of the wings).
The upperparts, from the frons to the uppertail, are
homogenously dark brownish-grey. Only the wings are slightly
darker than the rest. The dark brownish-grey
ear coverts also have some white streaking; they are framed
by prominent white supercilia, a white submoustachial stripe
and a rufous fringe along the neckline.
The irises are dark-brown.
The bill is dark-grey, with a yellow base; the legs and feet
are yellowish-grey.
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Taxonomy, classification |
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See Redwing
at Wikipedia  .
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Range, habitat, finding this species |
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Click here for information on habitat
and range
The overall distribution of this species can be assessed, and
specific locations where birds have been spotted can be found,
based on individual sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to
ebird.org
.
The global distribution of the Redwing is available
HERE
.
Redwings are a migratory Eurasian species with two recognized
extant races.
Nominate race
"iliacus"
has the most widespread range, from western Europe and north-western
Africa to eastern Asia, up to ca. 165 degrees geographical longitude.
In the South of their distribution (north-western Africa, western and
southern Europe, Asia Minor and south-western Asia) they are winter
visitors, while in the northern parts (northern and eastern Europe,
northern Asia) they are breeding migrants. In between there
are areas in which they only occur during migration.
Race "coburni" breeds in southern Greenland, on Iceland and on the
Faroe Islands and spends the winters in western Scotland, Ireland
and northern Iberia.
In continental Europe nominate race "iliacus"
is found. They spend the winters all around the Mediterranean
the Black Sea, the Caspian Sea, and in western Europe
(including the British Isles), westward of the river Rhine
and southward of the river Danube.
Except for some locations in Poland and Belarus, their
breeding range extends from the Baltic States, northern
Ukraine and Scandinavia eastward into European Russia, up
to the northern coastline. Elsewhere (basically in central
eastern and south-eastern Europe) they are found only during
their migration.
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Sightings |
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Click here for sighting information
Race "iliacus"
M. Eaton reports spotting a Redwing, nominate race
"iliacus",
near Oslo airport, Oslo, Norway, and at Skjervoy, near Tromso, Norway,
in June 2018.
J. Pires reports finding a Redwing, race
"iliacus",
in its winter quarter in Montargil, Alentejo, Portugal, in January
2015 and again in March 2020. Another was found in Mora, Evora,
Portugal, in January 2023.
G. Normand found a Redwing, race
"iliacus",
at Pere Lachaise cemetery, 20th district, Paris, France, in December
2019 and another at the same location in January 2021.
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Photos |
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Race "iliacus"
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ADULT |
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Frontal view of an adult Redwing issuing its call
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Skjervoy, near Tromso, Norway, June 2018]
Near-frontal view of a Redwing
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Skjervoy, near Tromso, Norway, June 2018]
Near-frontal view of a Redwing
(photo courtesy of G. Normand)
[Pere Lachaise cemetery, 20th district, Paris, France, January 2021]
Lateral view of a Redwing
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Near Oslo airport, Osly, Norway, June 2018]
Lateral view of a Redwing
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Near Oslo airport, Osly, Norway, June 2018]
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Food, Diet |
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Near-frontal view of a Redwing showing an interest in
the fruit of Ilex aquifolium
(photo courtesy of G. Normand)
[Pere Lachaise cemetery, 20th district, Paris, France, December 2019]
These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our
contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species
please refer to a field guide.
Breeding
Nest
Eggs
Behaviour
Call/s
