> GENERAL >>>>>
– medium-sized passerine, Common Blackbird-sized but longer wings
– nocturnal migrant, migration may continue during the day
> FLIGHT >>>>>
– flight pattern reminiscent of Fieldfare or Mistle Thrush
– usually solitary or in very small flocks
– only at migration hotspots sometimes in larger loose groups of 10-20 individuals
– flocks loose and without much formation
– flight quite slow with regular wingbeats
> VISUAL ID >>>>>
– large, heavy thrush
– quite long-tailed and long-winged
– unicoloured appearance (unlike Common Blackbird), visible in good light even from a distance
– important ID feature in flight: no bright „wingpits“ like the other two large European thrushes
Ring Ouzel Turdus t. torquatus, F
BIF2748, 07/10/2018, Helgoland, Germany, Roland Neumann
– wings pointier and flight less flapping as Common Blackbird more like Fieldfare
– in F the pale pectoral halfmoon is not always easy to recognise (more distinctive in spring)
Ring Ouzel Turdus t. torquatus, F
BIF2749, 07/10/2018, Helgoland, Germany, Roland Neumann
same as BIF2748
– in autumn the base colour is a dark greyish brown (black brown in F Common Blackbird)
– in good light the head may appear somewhat lighter brown
Ring Ouzel Turdus t. torquatus, F
BIF2750, 07/10/2018, Helgoland, Germany, Roland Neumann
– in autumn the body appears faintly scaly due to the pale fringed newly moulted feathers (never shown by Common Blackbird)
Ring Ouzel Turdus t. torquatus, 2CY F
BIF2244, 19/04/2018, Helgoland, Germany, Roland Neumann
– in spring F darker brown than in autumn similar in colour, black tail slightly contrasting to very dark brown upperside.
– if only seen from above the white fringes to remiges, greater and primary coverts are a good feature to separate it from Common Blackbird
– aged as 2CY by moult limit in greater coverts (longer and darker inner GCs)
Ring Ouzel Turdus t. torquatus, 2CY M
BIF1926, 21/04/2017, Helgoland, Germany, Roland Neumann
– M in spring show a uniform black body
– wings with pale fringed feathers
– note clearly pointier wings than Common Blackbird
– aged as 2CY by moult limit in greater coverts
Ring Ouzel Turdus t. torquatus, 2CY M
BIF1925, 21/04/2017, Helgoland, Germany, Roland Neumann
– white pectoral band in M more distinctive than in F
Ring Ouzel Turdus t. torquatus, M
BIF1921, 21/04/2017, Helgoland, Germany, Roland Neumann
– underwing completely dark
Ring Ouzel Turdus t. torquatus, M
BIF1922, 21/04/2017, Helgoland, Germany, Roland Neumann
Ring Ouzel Turdus t. torquatus, M
BIF1923, 21/04/2017, Helgoland, Germany, Roland Neumann
Ring Ouzel Turdus t. torquatus, M
BIF1927, 21/04/2017, Helgoland, Germany, Roland Neumann
>> SOUND ID >>>>>
Ring Ouzel Turdus t. torquatus, flight call, excitement calls during migration
BIF1920, 08/05/2016, Mounthooly, Great Britain, Patrick Franke
Sennheiser MKH 60/30
Ring Ouzel Turdus t. torquatus, flight call during migration
BIF1920, 08/05/2016, Mounthooly, Great Britain, Patrick Franke
Sennheiser MKH 60/30
Ring Ouzel Turdus t. torquatus, social call, excitement call during migration
BIF1931, 14/04/2017, North Sea, offshore, Roland Neumann
Ring Ouzel Turdus t. torquatus, social call during migration
BIF1931, 14/04/2017, North Sea, offshore, Roland Neumann
Ring Ouzel Turdus t. torquatus, call during migration
BIF3135, 13/10/2019, Greifswalder Oie, Germany, Georg Rüppel
>> COMPARISON SPECIES >>>>>
Common Blackbird (v) (a)
Fieldfare (a)
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