member family breeds woodland northern europe asia strongly migratory northern birds moving south winter rare british isles winters large numbers united_kingdom north_africa middle_east eating wide range insects summer grain seeds winter nest small colonies possibly protection predators nest built tree eggs laid chicks fed parents leave nest fortnight southern parts range north migrating birds birds form large flocks company long grey crown neck plain brown dark wings tail white breast flanks heavily spotted breast reddish wash rest white sexes similar appearance females slightly brown male simple song birds flight alarm calls etymology english common dates eleventh century anglo saxon word meant traveller fields species described current scientific comes separate latin words subspecies recognised description easily slate grey head dark brown tail breast flight white wing conspicuous harsh flight distinctive forehead crown male bluish grey feather central brownish black band eye regions black faint pale streaks eyes ear hind neck bluish grey usually white streak near shaft feather mantle feathers dark chestnut brown dark central streaks pale tips fourteen tail feathers pointed tip outer slightly shorter giving rounded tail brownish black darker bars visible lights outer edge tail feather fringed grey near base outer pair feathers narrow white border inner edge chin throat upper breast buff bold streaks brownish black lower breast white diminishing buff fewer belly similarly white restricted parts brownish black leading edge fringed grey inner edge outer feathers grey near base inner feathers fringed brown near base similar fringed chestnut brown leading edge upper wing brownish black similar outer margin wing white tail dark brown bases margins white centres tips strong slight curve notch near tip orange yellow winter upper somewhat brownish tips brownish black summer male yellow dark brown legs feet brown average adult length length female similar male upper parts somewhat brownish feathers crown narrower black central stripes throat breast paler fewer smaller markings similar male winter juvenile colour adults pale coloured streaks feathers dark streaks adult young assume adult plumage autumn flight harsh sound softer individuals gather trees angry alarmed warning sounds reminiscent male song sings breeding season mixture phrases like common interspersed notes sung wing tree subdued version song notes sung group birds communal distribution habitat migratory species distribution breeds northern norway northern sweden finland belgium germany switzerland austria czech_republic slovakia hungary poland siberia far east winter range extends west north_africa uncommon mediterranean region eastern populations migrate israel iran occasionally iceland greenland sicily malta cyprus summer mixed woodland birch pine spruce fir near marshes open ground avoid vicinity humans seen cultivated areas parks gardens inhabits open slopes hills tree line winter groups chiefly found open country agricultural land open woodland nomadic wandering abundance insects later year cultivated fields behaviour flight slow direct takes strong beats closes wings briefly highly shy easily scared winter bold noisy breeding season group tree tend face direction keeping constant foraging ground association group works way wind bird stand erect gaze resuming feeding alarmed fly wind feeding group reforms woodland song instead perch open bushes high branches socially usually ground common sites rough grass bushes rushes young plantations furrows fields migration southwards breeding range starts october bulk birds arrive united_kingdom november passage carry continental europe remain passage migrants return april resident migrants depart united_kingdom early animal food diet includes spiders insects beetles larvae flies autumn taken great number holly dog rose later winter eaten attacked field grain seeds eaten exhausted particularly harsh weather birds marshes found breeding breeding season starts poland north scandinavia start early july female builds cup shaped nest attempt location woodland garden rocks pile logs ground usually nest close proximity species adults defend nest aggressively nesting offer protection predators nest built dried grasses twigs little moss lining mud inner lining fine grasses usually eggs clutch occasionally seven eggs laid eggs vary size millimetres millimetres variable colour pale blue fine brown dots resemble common bright blue larger red brown starts eggs laid lasts thirteen fourteen days female chicks parents bring food usually ready leave nest fourteen sixteen days season especially southern parts breeding range status conservation extensive range estimated million square kilometres million square miles large population including estimated seventy million individuals europe thought thousand individuals russia global population estimated ninety million individuals population size appears stable bird believed approach population decline criteria iucn red list threatened species declining years generations evaluated concern united_kingdom extreme edge breeding range handful pairs breed classified species january
Fieldfare