Turdus iliacus

This particular Redwing was lakeside at Quidi Vidi, St. John’s in March 2008 – one of 20+ records for Newfoundland, by far the bulk of all North American sightings. Photo: Bruce Mactavish (March 10, 2008)

Status: Rare (Less than annual)

Origins: Widespread across Europe (including Iceland) with an increasing foothold in Greenland. This species is very migratory, wintering well south of its breeding range.

Record Details: There are currently ~25 records of this North American mega-rarity in Newfoundland – all but two in winter and often with flocks of American Robins. There is one summer record from St. Anthony on June 25, 1980 and one spring record from St. John’s on April 3, 2005.

1. Goose Cove Rd, St. Anthony, June 25, 1980
2. St. John’s, November 28 – December 2, 1982
3. St. John’s, January 7-8, 1986
4. St. John’s, December 2, 1988 – mid-February, 1989
5. St. John’s, February 11 – March 5, 1998
6. Ferryland, December 29, 1998
7. St. John’s, January 12-13, 2003
8. Kelligrews (Conception Bay South), January 5, 2005
9. Topsail (Conception Bay South), February 2-4, 2005 (possibly same as previous)
10. St. John’s, April 3, 2005
11. Two apparently different individuals were observed in various areas of St. John’s between November 25, 2006 – January 23, 2007
12. Cripple Cove (near Cape Race), January 19, 2007
13. St. John’s (University Ave), January 24, 2008
14. St. John’s (Quidi Vidi Lake), March 9-11, 2008 (possibly same as previous)
15. Trepassey, January 13-23, 2010
16. Two individuals were at Portugal Cove South on February 7, 2011. At least one was seen sporadically until March 3, 2011.
17. Cape Spear, February 8, 2011
18. Tors Cove, December 27, 2019
19. Lumsden, January 10-11, 2020
20. Clarenville, January 19 – February 1, 2020
21. Lumsden, January 21, 2021
22. St. John’s, January 24- – March 4, 2021
23. Felix Cove, January 29-31, 2021
24. St. John’s, March 11 – April 12, 2022
25. St. John’s, February 22-23, 2024

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