Birds of Britain 



the season, especially in the more southerly parts of its 

 breeding range, and after the duties of family life are over, the 

 birds unite in small flocks, lingering in their northern home 

 till autumnal storms drive them once more among us. 



The male in winter is uniform olive brown above. 

 Chest and chin pale buff, thickly and irregularly streaked 

 with dark brown. Sides of face dark brown, a light huffish 

 or white superciliary streak running from the base of the 

 upper mandible over the eye. Flanks deep rich chestnut ; 

 remainder of lower parts white, slightly streaked on the 

 sides with olive brown. Bill dark horn colour, legs pale 

 flesh. Length 8*75 in.; wing 4*4 in. The sexes are 

 similar in plumage, but the female is paler and duller in 

 colour than the male. The young bird is spotted on the 

 back, and after the autumn moult may still be recognised 

 by the pale tips to the wing coverts. 



Its breeding range extends north of 54° from the Yenesei 

 westward to Scandinavia, and its breeding in our islands 

 has not as yet been authenticated. In winter it is found 

 throughout the south of Europe, extending eastwards 

 through Persia and Turkestan. 



THE FIELDFARE 



Turdus pilaris, Linnaeus 



An unwonted note strikes our ears, a sort of " chack " 

 or " chick," and looking round we see that it proceeds from 

 a flock 'of ten or a dozen birds flying on a straight course 



10 



