RBBP seeks Fieldfare breeding records

The Rare Breeding Birds Panel (RBBP) has put out a request for any old records of potentially breeding Fieldfare, from 2022 or earlier.

Fieldfare is chiefly a winter visitor to Britain, primarily between October and April. It is considered a very rare breeding bird and has become even rarer in recent years. 

RBBP panel member, Professor David Norman, is leading a review of the status of Fieldfare in Britain and thus the panel is looking for more information on summertime records of the thrush.

Fieldfare is a very rare breeding bird in Britain (Dick Groves).

Fieldfare breeding in Britain

The RBBP said: "We would like to appeal to the birding community to send in records of potential breeding Fieldfares that they think may have not been submitted previously to assist with this review. We have also been in touch with the county and regional bird recorders to check their databases for records which may not have been submitted.

"From the more than 400 records we have on file, covering the period 1973 to 2022, there is a preponderance of records from upland areas of Scotland and northern England, with Borders, Cumbria, Derbyshire, Highland, north-east Scotland, Northumberland, Shetland each having over 10 qualifying records each.

"The sites tend to be above 200 m above sea level and are often in remote moorland areas along the edge of plantations. Any record of a single Fieldfare (or a pair) in the period May to July from such areas could refer to potential breeding. Alarming birds are of particular interest, as they suggest they have a nest nearby and perhaps fledged juveniles. 

Nesting behaviour

"We have had records of agitated pairs in the last week of April in some years, adults seen carrying food into woodland from early May onwards and recently fledged juveniles being fed by adults also seen in May."

If you have any Fieldfare breeding records from 2022 or earlier, please send all information to the RBBP secretary, Dr Mark Eaton, at secretary@rbbp.org.uk. More recent records should be submitted to the relevant county recorder, along with other records of rare breeding birds