Photos copyright Mike Wallen
Redwing Turdus iliacus
Rowsham - 7th February 2009
Photos copyright
Mike Wallen
Redwings will readily come into gardens, sometimes in good numbers, especially during harsh weather. The snowy spell in February was certainly harsh!
Little Marlow GP - December 2004
Photos copyright Adrian Parker
Whitchurch - 27th February 2000
Photos copyright Tim Watts
This species is a common
winter visitor to the county but a melanistic bird is certainly very scarce. The
bird was with a small flock of mixed thrushes including other Redwings, Fieldfares and
Mistle Thrushes and when first found was a bit of an identification problem!
The main identification features were; Breast was blackish with black streaks;
Faint eyestripe mainly behind the eye; An obvious pale throat; Tertials edged with cream
forming an obvious panel. It's behaviour was similar to the other Redwings but it
did tend to stay on the edge of the main flock.