Wildlife

Wild Redwing Advanced: Winter Welfare and Berry Availability

Redwing winter welfare depends on berry availability in hedgerows and gardens across the UK landscape.

Key Facts

Redwings arrive in October from Scandinavia and Iceland for the winter months
Hawthorn, rowan, and holly berries provide primary winter food before ground invertebrates become available
Severe cold causes redwings to move further south and west in search of unfrozen ground
Gardens that provide berry sources and water support individual redwing welfare during cold snaps

Welfare Considerations

Redwings that cannot find sufficient berry food during cold winter periods face starvation and hypothermia. Maintaining native berry-bearing hedgerows and garden shrubs provides essential food resources that sustain individual birds through the most challenging winter conditions. Each garden with hawthorn and holly contributes to redwing winter welfare.

What You Can Do

Plant native berry-bearing shrubs including hawthorn, rowan, and holly for winter redwings
Leave holly and hawthorn berries for birds rather than cutting before winter
Report redwing arrival and abundance to BTO BirdTrack winter migration monitoring