Wildlife

Wild Fieldfare Winter Flocks

Fieldfares winter in the UK in large flocks, depending on berry crops and open grassland for food through cold months.

Key Facts

Fieldfares breed in Scandinavia and arrive from October
Winter flocks can number thousands of birds in good berry years
Hawthorn, holly, and rowan berries are primary food sources
Hard frosts force fieldfares to switch to worms in open grassland
Climate change is causing some fieldfares to winter further north

Welfare Considerations

Fieldfares in hard winters without accessible berry crops must find earthworms in frozen ground - physiologically demanding in cold conditions. Garden windfalls and berry-rich hedgerows provide critical food resources during cold spells.

What You Can Do

Plant native berry-bearing shrubs including hawthorn and holly
Put out windfall apples during cold weather
Maintain berry-rich hedgerows adjacent to grassland