Visiting redwings
By Rory Dimond
As we approach the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch and the re-start of our Wildlife Interpreting sessions with a Big Heath Birdwatch on 29th January, we thought we would introduce one of the birds you might encounter on Hampstead Heath at this season, the redwing.
The redwing, Turdus iliacus, is the smallest of the UK’s ‘true thrushes’ (from the genus Turdus). In winter, it arrives to Britain in droves from the forests of Northern Europe, seeking out our richer winter larder.
Walking in open areas in the evening, you may be surprised to hear a soft “tseep” from the skies above. This is the sound of redwing migrating under cover of darkness. During the day it is easy to identify flocks of redwing by their size (a little larger than a robin) and their plumage patterns. They are darker than a song thrush Turdus philomelos , with a mahogany upperside, pale eyebrows, white, speckled chest and of course red underwings and flanks.
Another flocking winter migrant thrush is the Fieldfare Turdus pilaris which is much larger with different plumage (The difference is explained in this video by the BTO).
We regularly get flocks of redwing on Hampstead Heath in winter, so do look out for them!
A redwing on Hampstead Heath © Keir Chauhan
Redwings are renowned berry-guzzlers. Scattered along a hedgerow or fruiting tree, they gulp down berries of hawthorn, rowan, and holly, sometimes creating quite a festive scene amongst the frosted, berry-laden branches.
The arrival of redwings is much to the chagrin of Mistle Thrushes Turdus viscivorous, which stake out their own berried bush for the winter and fruitlessly attempt to guard it against the onslaught of their smaller cousins. Redwings sometimes visit gardens in harsher weather where there are pickings of ornamental berry bushes such as cotoneaster and pyracanthus or handouts of fruit like apples. The orchards of the West Midlands are an important feeding area for redwings to stock up on windfall apples.
But redwings won’t pass up the opportunity for something meatier and can often be seen hopping across playing fields and farmland in search of worms. They will also split up and rummage through woodland leaf-litter for insects, especially when it is too cold and windy to be out in the open. Redwings are well camouflaged against the woodland carpet, and their reaction to predators is often to sit still and make like a leaf. When startled in the open, redwings head for cover in trees or bushes.
A redwing hiding in holly © Keir Chauhan
There are actually two races of redwing that visit Britain. The slightly paler Scandinavian race T. iliacus iliacus winter in Southern Britain, whereas the darker, streakier Icelandic race T.iliacus corburni winter around Scotland and Ireland. Of course there is some overlap , especially since redwings are not site-faithful at all during the winter and will move around depending on the weather and food availability, going south in harsher conditions. Scandinavian birds sometimes fly all the way down to North Africa.
Some Icelandic birds don’t even bother going home, and actually breed in Northern Scotland. This was first noticed in 1932 and numbers grew to around 80 pairs in the early 80s, but have since fallen to less than 20. This small breeding population is why redwings have a red RSPB conservation status in the UK. It may be novel, but the over 1000 strong winter migrant population is perhaps a more important concern.
Wintering birds have also shown signs of decline, with fewer reports of spectacular communal roosts. Perhaps this is because there are less fruiting hedges in our countryside. Even those that still exist are often cut too often by flailing to allow berry production.
As the colder seasons set in, look out for this winter special on the Heath. Lay out a few apples in your garden as a helping hand to our winter thrushes and you may be lucky enough to be visited by a party of handsome redwing.
If you would like to find out about birds, especially those that visit Hampstead Heath, do join our upcoming bird walks or drop in to our wildlife interpreters’ birdwatching outings. All welcome!
You can also read the 2020 Hampstead Heath Bird report here.
