Resources Recent bird sightings Bird Photographs Notes: A - Z Index Notes: Taxonomic Index Outer Hebrides Checklist Useful contacts Archived Sightings Wildlife Garden Bird ringing in Lewis

Bird Sightings : Hebrides : Ring Ouzel

 

Awaiting image for this species

 

Ring Ouzel

Turdus torquatus

Gaelic: Dubh-chreige

 

• Ring Ouzel
• Turdus torquatus
• Gaelic: Dubh-chreige
• UK: 6,500 pairs - in decline - RED LIST BTO
• UK: Migrant breeder, passage visitor. Arrives March, April leaves in September
• WI: Scarce passage visitor (very small numbers each year)
  3 records of singing males, but no breeding records
• Breeds: Moorland. Europe, near East
• Winters: Africa, Middle East
• Habitat: Moorland (migration short grassy coastal areas)
• Diet: Spring-early & summer earthworms, insects, otherwise mostly berries
• Like a blackbird but males have a pale wing panel and striking white breast band.
  Shy, but often with other thrushes after breeding season
• Listen to a Ring Ouzel on the RSPB site
• Similar birds: Blackbird

 

In March 2007 a photograph of a black bird with a patch of white either side of throat sent in for identification.

The bird was identified as a leucistic Blackbird. The comments and photographs that were contributed are invaluable in distinguishing betweeen a Ring Ouzel and a leucistic Blackbird.

 

Ring Ouzel records in the Western Isles

Scarce passage visitor (very small numbers each year)
3 records of singing males, but no breeding records
Source: Outer Hebrides Bird Report (2001)

 

The chart below shows how abundant the Ring Ouzel is during a month or when you are more likely to see it.

J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D

(Source: Outer Hebrides Birds Checklist)

 

Other local bird photographs

Sources of information for the bird sightings section

Home • Contact Webmaster

Copyright © 2010 Western Isles Netspace.  User Agreement and Privacy policy