Wildlife

Redwing Winter Foraging and Welfare

Redwings are the UK's smallest true thrush, arriving from Iceland and Scandinavia each autumn to exploit berry crops and soil invertebrates on farmland and in gardens.

Key Facts

Redwings travel up to 3,000 km to winter in the UK
Flocks often travel at night, with calls audible overhead on clear autumn nights
They are highly dependent on hedgerow berries such as hawthorn, holly and elder
Population estimates suggest over 700,000 redwings winter in Britain annually

Welfare Considerations

Redwings are vulnerable to starvation during hard winters when ground freezes and berry supplies are exhausted. Urban gardens with berry-bearing shrubs can become critical feeding sites. Night-time collisions with lit windows and glass are an underreported mortality source.

What You Can Do

Plant holly, hawthorn and elder to provide winter berry supplies
Apply window film or external screens to reduce collision risk at night
Leave fallen leaves undisturbed for invertebrate-foraging thrushes
Support BTO wintering bird surveys that monitor population health