Tag Archives: Redwing

Breeding time

skogartrostur-4
Skógarþröstur – Redwing – Turdus iliacus

During the breeding time the Redwing mostly eats worms and insects. At other times of the year it is more into  berries and seeds. Although the Redwing is considered one the Icelandic migrants,  big groups of them stay for the winter.

skogartrostur-6

The Redwing builds its nest in various locations and usually lays 4 to 6 eggs which hatch in about 10 to 14 days. The young leave the nest after about two weeks and depend on the parents for an additional two weeks. Then the female often lays eggs for the second time.

skogartrostur-5

Here you can hear the beautiful song of the Redwing:

Feeding the young ones

Skógarþröstur - Redwing _ Turdus iliacus
Skógarþröstur – Redwing  – Turdus iliacus

The Redwing is very busy these days. Finding food for its young ones is hard work and takes up a lot of time.  Worms and larva are on the menu every day.

skogartrostur-6
Redwing

This little chick had found a nice spot on our garden table yesterday morning. Two pairs of Redwings have made nests in our garden this spring so several chicks have been hopping around here lately.

Three species of Thrushes

In the last few days there have been three species of Thrushes in the garden. We have had up to 25 Redwings, 5 Blackbirds and a Fieldfare. The photoes are taken in the garden in the last few days.

gratrostur
Gráþröstur – Fieldfare – Turdus pilaris
skogartrostur-3
Skógarþröstur – Redwing – Turdus iliacus
svarttrostur
Svartþröstur – Blackbird – Turdus merula

The Redwings are here

The first migratory Redwings (Turdus iliacus) were seen in gardens in Selfoss and groves in Grímsnes today. This afternoon ten Redwings were here in our garden, eating bread, apples and sunflower seeds. There are always some Redwings that stay in gardens during the winter time but the newly arrived birds can easily be recognised from the others. They are full of excitement, flying quickly from one garden to another in their search for food.

skogartrostur3
Skógarþröstur – Redwing – Turdus iliacus

Since snow covers everything these newly arrived birds have to depend on feed in gardens like the ones who stay here in the winter time.

skogartrostur4

Photoes from today.

Redwing all puffed up

This Redwing is all puffed up in the cold. I bet it’s dreaming of warmer weather and the coming of spring, at least we are. This winter has been one of the worst we remember. Endless blizzards week after week and snow that probably won’t melt until April.

skogartrostur
Skógarþröstur – Redwing – Turdus iliacus

One of the perks is of course all the birds that frequent our garden, lots of Redpolls, Snow Buntings, Starlings, Crossbills, Thrushes and vagrants such as the Chaffinches. They know for sure that here they will get enough food.