Juniper Thrush

• Length: 22–27 cm
• Wingspan: 39–42 cm
• Weight: 80–140 g
• Nest: Trees and tall shrubs
• Breeding season: April–August
• Clutch size: 5–6 eggs
• Life expectancy: 19 years

The fieldfare is about the same size as a blackbird. It has a gray head and rump. Its back and wings are brown, and its tail is black. Its breast has many spots on an orange-beige to rust-colored chest, and its belly is white.

It has an elongated, robust body and a strong, medium-length, straight beak. The underwing coverts are white.

The most common call of the fieldfare is its very characteristic "schak-schak-schak" chattering. It is especially audible as the birds take flight and among migrating flocks.

In the summer, the fieldfare feeds primarily on earthworms, insects, and their larvae living in the soil. However, small animals such as snails and arachnids also play an important role. Berries and fruits become particularly important only in late summer and winter, when no animal food is available.

The birds reach sexual maturity in their first year of life and form monogamous seasonal pairs, defending their breeding territory against others during the breeding season (April through July). However, they live in very social groups year-round, and their territorial behavior subsides after the eggs are laid. For this reason, field thrushes can also be found nesting in small colonies in deciduous and coniferous trees. The female lays 5–6 eggs, which she incubates for about 2 weeks. The altricial chicks remain in the nest for about 2 more weeks and are fed jointly by both parents before leaving it. After about 30 days, the young are independent. There are 1–2 broods per year.

Outside the breeding season, field thrushes are almost always found in large flocks, which may also include other thrush species in the fall and winter.

The fieldfare is a partial migrant and is found from the taiga to Central and Western Siberia and across large parts of Europe as far as central France. Its Austrian population is clearly concentrated in the Alps and the Bohemian Massif. The Pannonian region and the southeastern Alpine foothills are inhabited only sporadically and in isolated pockets.

Here in the " Seewinkel ," the fieldfare is a common migrant and winter visitor from late October through early April, and it breeds in the area only sporadically. In winter, there is a large influx of birds from the north.

To breed, the fieldfare requires wooded farmland, open deciduous and mixed forests, field copses, tree-lined avenues, parks, and gardens. In winter, it can be found in open forests, on farmland with hedgerows, in orchards, and in parkland.

According to BirdLife Austria, the fieldfare is classified as “Yellow” on the traffic-light system and is therefore among the birds with priority conservation needs. On the Austrian Red List, it is listed as “Threatened.” This indicates a declining population trend and a high risk of extinction in parts of its range.

The best time of year to observe field thrushes is during the winter months. They often travel in flocks in search of food and are easy to spot by their calls. They forage in open areas and orchard meadows, but also move to hedges and trees. If you look very closely, you may sometimes see redwings or other thrush species in their company.