A Garden Birdwatcher’s Guide to the Redwing

3 min read
A Garden Birdwatcher’s Guide to the Redwing

One of our beautiful winter visitors, around one million redwings arrive on our shores in October and November, when the rowan berries in their native Scandinavia have gone over. They are members of the thrush family and look a little like small song thrushes, although they have a distinctive white flash over the eye, rich red flanks under the wing, and more pronounced speckling on the belly. These striking birds migrate over five hundred miles, usually setting off on clear nights and communicating with one another mid-flight using a thin, high-pitched “tsee” call as they soar gracefully through the darkness. You’ll often hear them before you see them. Social among other birds, redwings frequently flock with fieldfares in huge winter groups, sweeping across fields and trees in a flurry of wings. But despite their numbers, they remain incredibly wary of humans – you wouldn’t know that we have so many visiting the UK because they’re so good at keeping out of sight.

Redwings tend to spend most of their time foraging for berries, windfall apples and insects in woodland edges, orchards, hedgerows and open countryside. In particularly cold weather, you may be lucky enough to spot one in your garden – especially if you live in a more rural spot – and they’ll sometimes visit bird feeders for mealworms, raisins, and fresh water. A wet British summer or a harsh winter can really affect their population, and they are now on the red list for conservation in the UK. While most redwings return to Scandinavia in March and April, around twenty pairs now breed in the Scottish Highlands. They nest close to the ground, building a tidy, cup-shaped structure from grass, moss, twigs and lichen, tucked into thick vegetation. The female lays between four and six pale blue, speckled eggs in each brood and incubates them for around two weeks, with the male feeding her and later helping to feed the chicks once they hatch. Fledglings leave the nest at about fourteen days old, but they’ll stay nearby for another fortnight while they build up strength – giving their parents enough time to raise a second brood if the season allows.

Redwings are true nomads, rarely returning to the same wintering grounds year after year. Some birds seen here in previous winters have later been recorded in Spain, Georgia, Turkey and even Iran, which shows just how wide-ranging and unpredictable their movements can be. Their collective noun is a mutation of redwings – a slightly odd term for such elegant birds – and they have also been nicknamed the snow bird, storm bird and the Norway nightingale over the years. The redwing is thought to symbolise Advent, and if you’d like to support them, planting berry-rich trees and hedging such as rowan, hawthorn, or holly is one of the best things you can do.

Ready to deepen your connection with the birds in your garden? Discover more about your feathered friends and how to attract them to your space with Amidst the Birdsong: A Garden Birdwatcher's Journal. This beautifully crafted journal is the perfect companion for anyone looking to observe and learn about the birds visiting their garden. Start your birdwatching journey today – click here to learn more.

Meet the author!

Clare Cahill is an enthusiastic bird lover with a passion for observing and learning about the incredible variety of birds around us. While she doesn’t have a formal degree in ornithology, Clare has dedicated countless hours to reading birding books and exploring nature, constantly expanding her knowledge and deepening her love for wildlife.

For Clare, birdwatching brings a sense of calm and connection to the world, offering a peaceful escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. She believes that the more we connect with nature, the more we can do to protect and conserve it. Through her writing, Clare hopes to inspire others to take a moment to pause, look up, and appreciate the wonderful birds that share our spaces.

Meet Clare

The seasonal bird food brand

We're a little company, supporting little birds. Find out more about what sets us apart.

  • Seasonal

    Birds have different dietary needs throughout the year, from nesting to moulting and surviving colder months. To support these changes, we’ve created seasonal blends – order a Seasonal Bird Food bag, and we’ll adjust the blend to match the season, making it easy to do something great for the birds.

  • Sustainable

    Sustainability is at the heart of everything we do. We don't farm, process, and transport cheap filler ingredients that birds simply kick to the floor. Instead, we focus on premium ingredients they love. Our packaging is compostable, and our bird feeders and nest boxes are tested for durability and longevity.

  • Songbird

    We design our food and select our range of feeders with little birds in mind. Every ingredient in our blends is chosen because small birds love it, simplifying your bird feeding routine. Our feeders provide safe access to food while helping to keep out larger, more dominant species. Look out for robins, blue tits, wrens, finches and more visiting your garden for our food.

  • Support

    With birds in your garden, you’re never alone - they’re the friends who always visit. Feeding them supports wildlife conservation while bringing joy and calm. Whether spotting a new species or simply watching their daily routines, just ten minutes a day strengthens your connection with nature and boosts your wellbeing.

When life feels busy, the birds keep it simple.

There’s something lovely about how feeding the birds becomes part of the rhythm of your day. A scoop of seed, a clean dish of water - and then a pause, just to watch who turns up. It doesn’t have to take long, but those moments can be surprisingly grounding. A little burst of mindfulness, fresh air, a chance to notice your garden as it changes throughout the seasons, and the cheerful flutter of wings - it’s good for the soul.

Join our flock of bird enthusiasts who share a passion for sustainable and thoughtful bird feeding.

Start Your Bird Food Subscription

Shop our bestsellers

From our popular seasonal bird food to the Squirrel Buster squirrel resistant bird feeder, our range is designed to help you to create a haven for little birds in your garden.