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, and is 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. 



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