In flight the underwing is white, as in the missel-thrush, 
from which it can easily be distinguished by its smaller size, 
and the absence of white on its tail. The redwing, like the 
fieldfare, is gregarious. This is an important point to bear in 
mind; since it might otherwise be confused, by the novice, 
with the song-thrush, the two being about the same size. 
But seen at rest, close quarters, there can be no mistake ; 
the redwing having a conspicuous cream-coloured eye-stripe, 
and chestnut-red flank-feathers. The underwing is similarly 
coloured. Finally there is the ring-ousel, which haunts the 
moorlands and rocky ravines. But it may be recognized 
at once by its conspicuous white gorget, contrasted with its 
otherwise black plumage. 
Of the forty species of British warblers there is not one 
which the most expert of our ornithologists would venture to 
identify by the character of the flight alone. Most of these 
species, of course, are rare and accidental visitors; many 
need an expert to distinguish them, since they represent but 
Continental races of our own summer visitors. About ten 
species can be called common, or fairly common, in suitable 
localities, and the novice must not expect to recognize even 
these with anything like certainty. They have no character- 
istic flight, and they rarely do more than “ flit”’ from one 
place to another. In the pages of this book, then, they can 
rightly have no place. But some may, perhaps, be glad of a 
215 
