The redwing is the smallest British thrush and a winter visitor from Iceland and Scandinavia whose welfare during harsh winters depends critically on berry crop abundance in hedgerows and gardens.
Redwings are among the most cold-sensitive of UK winter visitors because they lack the fat reserves of larger thrushes. Hard frosts in December and January cause rapid starvation when berry stocks are exhausted and earthworms are inaccessible. Mass mortality events have been recorded after prolonged cold spells. Garden apples, berry-bearing shrubs, and supplemental food can be life-saving during such periods.