38 OUR IRISH SONG BIRDS. 



The Fieldfare is one of three migratory Thrushes 

 that visit Ireland regularly every year. Why they are 

 migratory, whilst the Missel Thrush, Song Thrush, and 

 Blackbird are resident all the year round, no one can 

 tell. In their food and their habits generally they 

 resemble the other Thrushes ; they differ from them 

 only in the short stay they make in these islands. Of 

 the three, the Fieldfare and the Redwing are winter 

 visitors ; they do not breed in this country, and for this 

 reason especially they do not sing, save in exceptional 

 cases. The only note I have heard is a kind of loud 

 chatter, sounding like " shack, jack, chack." The Ring 

 Ousel, on the contrary, is a summer migrant, arriving 

 shortly after the departure of the Fieldfare and Redwing 

 for more northern regions, and leaving us just before 

 their return in the autumn. As a summer visitor, he 

 breeds and sings during his stay amongst us. The 

 Fieldfares have been known to arrive in this country as 

 early as October 14, and to remain to the end of April 

 or beginning of May. They arrive and depart rather 

 later than Redwings. Shortly after their arrival, Field- 

 fares may be seen in large flocks in the open fields, and 

 may be readily distinguished from the Missel Thrushes, 

 which they most resemble, by the blue patch on the 

 back of the head, the dark marks under the eye, and the 

 white under-plumage. 



The Fieldfare is a shy bird, and, save in very severe 

 winters, will hardly permit a nearer approach than a 

 distance of one hundred yards. A very trying season, 

 however, makes the poor birds weaker and tamer also, 

 and hundreds are sometimes starved to death, if the 

 snow continues long upon the ground. All around 



