Redwing (Turdus iliacus) lives in northern coniferous forests across Europe and Asia. It feeds on insects and fruit. Its conservation status is Least Concern.
Hear the Redwing
A real field recording of the Redwing, made in the wild.
A redwing's nest holds four to six speckled eggs, each 2.6 × 1.9 cm and weighing 4.6 g, 5 % of that is shell. After 12-13 days of incubation, the chicks break free, spend another 12-15 days growing feathers, then cling to parents for a further 14 days before venturing alone.
Redwings occupy an estimated 10 million km² (3.8 million mi²) of habitat and number 26-40 million individuals in Europe alone, which is about 40 % of a global tally of 98-151 million birds. Such vast numbers mask a looming risk: the species is edging toward the IUCN's 30 % decline threshold over ten years or three generations, prompting a precautionary Near-Threatened listing. Monitoring these figures helps conservationists spot early warning signs before populations slip into crisis.
Redwings pack a punch for their size, measuring just 20-24 cm long, spreading wings 33-34.5 cm across, yet they tip the scales at 50-75 g.
Redwing songs aren't just pretty, they're locally tuned. In Norway's rural forests, each dialect area averages about 41.5 km², where birds share nearly identical introductory notes, even in a species that migrates thousands of kilometres each year.
Sources
Every fact above was checked against these pages, and kept only where one of them states it.
As the last wisps of autumn's haze dissipate, the redwing, a humble thrush with a penchant for secrecy, begins its clandestine journey, slipping unseen across the winter landscapes of northern Europe. With a gentle rustle of wings, it navigates the understory, a master of subtle movement, its brown plumage blending seamlessly with the muted tones of the forest floor. In the fleeting moments when it takes to the skies, the redwing's rich, throaty song bursts forth, a melodic testament to the enduring spirit of this enigmatic, near-threatened traveler.
Hear the Redwing, and 4,400+ more
Real recorded sounds, 11 nature games and a free Daily 5, 1v1 quiz duels, conservation wins and a safe Kids mode. Free on Feravox.
