Fieldfare

Turdus pilaris

Fieldfare_Lumsden2016_TraceStagg

This Fieldfare was present at Lumsden from February 6 – April 1, 2016 and marks the 9th record for the province. (Photo: Trace Stagg)

Status: Rare (Less than annual)

Origins: Widespread across most of Europe and western Asia, it breeds primarily in the north and winters further south and west. While it is at best an uncommon breeder in the British Isles, it winters there in large numbers. It is a rare vagrant to eastern North America.

Record Details: Ten records (13+ individuals) for Newfoundland:

  1. St. John’s, January 1 1973 (2nd Canadian record)
  2. At least four individuals were in St. John’s between December 29, 1985 – January 8, 1986
  3. Cape Spear, February 8, 1989
  4. St. John’s, December 22, 1991 – early February 1992
  5. St. Anthony, January 14 – late March, 1995
  6. St. John’s, January 2 – February 13, 1999
  7. Ferryland, January 12, 2001
  8. Reidville (near Deer Lake), ~December 15, 2012 – January 26, 2013
  9. Lumsden, February 6 – April 1, 2016
  10. St. John’s, March 5-6, 2021

There are at least two unconfirmed reports, from St. Anthony (June 4, 1994) and Cape Spear (April 29, 2002).

* NOTE – This website is not an official account and “may” contain incorrect information and/or details of unconfirmed records. *

This Fieldfare was spotted feeding on apples in a Reidville backyard sporadically between mid-December 2012 and January 26, 2013 - the first record since 1999.Photo: Gerard Butler (January 19, 2013)

This Fieldfare was spotted feeding on apples in a Reidville backyard sporadically between mid-December 2012 and January 26, 2013 – the first record since 2001. Photo: Gerard Butler (January 19, 2013)

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