a a ES 
THE REDWING 
above the eye, dark ear-coverts, and the flanks and under 
surface of the wings are bright chestnut. ‘Then it only 
appears in our islands in winter, andis a very gregarious 
bird. Bands of Redwings reach us in October, a little 
earlier than the Fieldfare, and in many cases return each 
season to certain haunts, which they frequent throughout 
their stay. ‘They are much attached to a roosting-place 
—usually in some shrubbery or wood with plenty of 
undergrowth containing evergreens. ‘The days are spent 
chiefly upon the fields, where the birds may be seen con- 
stantly in motion, the flock scattering in all directions, 
individuals every now and then taking short flights ; and if 
disturbed the whole band rises irregularly and congre- 
gates upon some tree, whence as the alarm subsides they 
fly down to the grass again in twos and threes to resume 
their search for food. ‘The Redwing is not so much of 
a berry-feeder as the Fieldfare, subsisting chiefly upon 
worms and other animal substances. It suffers severely 
during a long-continued frost in consequence. The bird 
is silent, so far as song is concerned, in our country, its 
usual note being a shrill yelp or a musical double note 
during flight ; it also utters a harsh chattering cry similar 
to that of the Song Thrush when alarmed, and at the 
roosting-place a low and not unpleasant chatter. ‘The 
Redwing breeds in more or less scattered colonies, in 
birch- and alder-trees, and its nest very closely resembles 
that of the Blackbird. Its four or five eggs resemble 
those of that species, but are much smaller. 
The adult Redwing has the general colour of the upper 
parts olive-brown ; the eye-stripe is very pale buff. ‘The 
under parts are pale buff, shading into white on the abdo- 
men and into bright chestnut on the flanks ; under wing- 
coverts and axillaries spotted and streaked with dark 
brown. Bill dark brown; tarsi and toes pale brown ; 
irides brown. Length about 8 inches. The nestling is 
spotted both on the upper and under parts. 
35 
