Scientific name: Turdus pilaris Linnaeus, 1758
Bird group: Thrushes and allies
Field characters. 26 cm. Easy to recognise: the only thrush in the region with bold contrast between head, mantle, rump, back, and tail, and with white underwing. Adult has head and neck blue-grey, streaked blackish with black margin along cheeks; mantle, scapulars and lesser coverts warm chestnut with faint dark mottling; back and rump grey-bluish, tail black; other wing feathers blackish brown with grey outer margins on outer wing and rufous outer margins on inner wing; underparts white, richly spotted with black (except on centre of belly) and with orange tinge to chest and flanks; spots become distinctly "V"- shaped from lower chest on. Juvenile lacks bold contrast of adult (apart from grey rump contrasting with black tail); head is brown with greyish undertone, "saddle" is much duller than in adult. Underparts are copiously spotted, but spots fade towards rear and lack V-shape.
Voice. Most common call is a sharp and terse "chakchakchak"; song warbling mixture of tones, admixed with calls.
Distribution. Common. Breeds in higher and middle latitudes, and migrates south-westward during winter; a considerable overlap exists between breeding range of southern populations, and wintering range of northern populations.
Habitat. Breeds in open woods in the vicinity of water; also found in urban areas, especially gardens and parks. During winter found in all kind of habitats, depending on availability of food, but rarely on coasts or at high altitudes and often in meadows.
Food. All kinds of terrestrial and flying invertebrates and a broad range of fruits and berries, particularly outside breeding season.