North American field guide

Fieldfare

Turdus pilaris

Identification

Field notes

25 cm (10") Rare. Breeds in Greenland. Strays to Alaska, eastern Canada and northeastern United States.

Purplish-brown back separates the gray head and gray rump. Black tail. Throat is streaked. Rusty breast and sides have a scaly pattern. White belly. Yellow bill. In flight; white wing linings flash.

Song: twittering, "shack shack" call.

Watch and learn

Videos

2 videos
Bird Advisor Identification rules 1 variant 3 rules

These are the observation paths the Bird Advisor can use to identify this species. Each rule is an alternative match.

Fieldfare

3 rules
Rule 1 15 criteria confidence 1
What colour were the WINGS ?
Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the TAIL ?
Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?
Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BELLY ?
White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ?
Streaked lengthwise (from head to tail) · Spotted or mottled · Barred crosswise (from side to side) · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?
Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?
White, or pale (grayish-white) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BILL ?
White, or pale (grayish-white) · Yellow · Olive (yellowish-green) · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?
Straight and slender · Straight and thick · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?
Short · Medium · Long · Unknown
What FACIAL or HEAD features were noted if any ?
Light area between the bill and the eye · Light area over, below, behind or around the eye · Light area running up the side of the neck or head · Sideburn stripe running down beneath the eye · Dark area behind, under, through or around the eye · Ear "tufts" or horns · NONE of the above or a PLAIN unmarked FACE · Unknown
What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?
Blue · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?
Robin-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?
Songbird (ground or perching bird)
WHERE was the bird seen ?
Northeastern Canada or United States · Northwestern Canada or United States
result:718-fieldfare:1:1 Source: 718 Fieldfare, row 1
Rule 2 6 criteria confidence 1
Was the bird seen best or only on the ground ?
Yes
How BIG was the bird ?
Sparrow-sized · Robin-sized
List any unique feeding behaviour observed ?
Turning over leaves · Running and stopping
What TYPE of bird was seen ?
Identify from a Unique Behaviour
What type of environment was the bird seen in?
Urban or residential area or at a feeder · Open area: field, prairie, meadow, farmland, tundra · Thickets or shrubs · Deciduous forest · Coniferous forest · Mixed forest · Wooded freshwater habitat · Freshwater marsh or wetland
WHERE was the bird seen ?
Northwestern Canada or United States
result:718-fieldfare:2:1 Source: 718 Fieldfare, row 2
Rule 3 6 criteria confidence 1
Was the bird seen best or only on the ground ?
Yes
How BIG was the bird ?
Sparrow-sized · Robin-sized
List any unique feeding behaviour observed ?
Turning over leaves · Running and stopping
What TYPE of bird was seen ?
Identify from a Unique Behaviour
What type of environment was the bird seen in?
Urban or residential area or at a feeder · Open area: field, prairie, meadow, farmland, tundra · Thickets or shrubs · Deciduous forest · Coniferous forest · Mixed forest · Wooded freshwater habitat · Freshwater marsh or wetland
WHERE was the bird seen ?
Northeastern Canada or United States
result:718-fieldfare:3:1 Source: 718 Fieldfare, row 3