THE REDWING 
TURDUS ILIACUS 
LocaL names in surrounding counties : 
Stratus IN British AvirAuNA: A common and widely 
distributed winter visitor. 
RapiAL DistriBUTION WITHIN FIFTEEN MILES OF ST. 
Paut’s: ‘The Redwing seems everywhere to be a more 
abundant bird than the Fieldfare, although almost pre- 
cisely the same remarks apply to its distribution in the 
Metropolitan area otherwise. It is also much more 
regular in its habits, and returns to certain spots each 
autumn, which it makes its headquarters and roosting- 
places all the winter through. Not only so, but the 
Redwing is more gregarious. Fieldfares are often met 
with in scattered parties; Redwings as frequently live 
in large flocks ; and as they obtain the bulk of their food 
upon the ground many open localities are resorted to 
which would have little attraction for the Fieldfare, which 
depends so largely for sustenance upon berries. ‘There are 
many acres of market gardens and open fields scattered 
about the suburbs where this Thrush congregates in large 
numbers. I have also seen it repeatedly in the West- 
End parks—St. James’s Park, Hyde Park, and Kensington 
Gardens especially—and a fall of snow yak always a ten- 
dency to drive it townwards. In the remoter suburbs 
it is, of course, much more frequently observed. It is 
exceptionally common in the Epping area and in the 
Walthamstow and Wanstead districts. Severe winters 
often send it to unusual localities. 
There are certain characteristics in the appearance and 
economy of the Redwing that serve readily to distin- 
guish it from the Song Thrush, which it not only closely 
resembles, but with which it is very often confused. 
The Redwing is perceptibly smaller, has a pale stripe 
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