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Difference between revisions of "Ring Ouzel" - BirdForum Opus

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(Taxonomy. References)
m (minor wording; exact day dates (in the case of Indiana's photo, I trusted the metadata more because the date in them preceded the upload date); the guy's called Rob, not Ron)
 
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[[Image:Ring_Ouzel.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by {{user|Rob|Ron}} <br />Location:  Texel, The [[Netherlands]]]]
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'''Alternative name: Ring Ousel'''
 +
[[Image:Turdus torquatus torquatus by Helios.jpg|thumb|550px|right|''T. t. torquatus'', male<br />Photo &copy; by {{user|Helios|Helios}}<br />Staines Moor, Surrey; 13 April 2012]]
 
;[[:Category:Turdus|Turdus]] torquatus
 
;[[:Category:Turdus|Turdus]] torquatus
 
==Identification==
 
==Identification==
−
Dark yellow-brown bill<br />
+
[[Image:Ring Ouzel.jpg|thumb|350px|right|''T. t. torquatus'', female<br />Photo &copy; by {{user|Rob|Rob}} <br />Texel, the [[Netherlands]]; 17 April 2004]]
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Dark brown legs<br />
+
Length 24-27 cm (9-9½ in); weight 90-138 g
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'''Summer Male'''
+
*Slim build and long wings.
−
Blackish-brown with a white gorget. Thin white margins on flight feathers, giving a 'pale' appearance<br />
+
*Yellow bill, darker above at base and blackish tip.
−
'''Female''' and winter '''male''' are browner with greyish flecks and duller gorget<br />
+
*White to off-white breast band.
−
'''Juvenile''' grey-brown with speckled breast<br />
+
*Thin white margins on [[Topography#Wings|secondary]] feathers and greater [[Topography#General Anatomy|coverts]], giving a pale wing panel.
 +
*White fringes on body contour feathers, giving a 'scaly' appearance (width of fringes varies regionally; see Subspecies, below).
 +
*Dark brown legs.
 +
*'''Male''' black to blackish-brown with a white breast band.
 +
*'''Female''' browner with greyish flecks and often duller breast band.
 +
*'''Juvenile''' grey-brown with scaly breast band.
  
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Alpine/Pyrenees males have broad white scaling on the underparts.
+
====Similar species====
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====Similar Species====
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[[Eurasian Blackbird]] is similar in brief appearance, in particular beware leucistic Blackbirds, though these usually lack the pale wing panel and often have additional white patches not shown by Ring Ouzels. Eurasian Blackbird is also dumpier and shorter-winged. Juveniles of both species are very similar, but again the structural differences can help. Subspecies ''T. t. amicorum'' approaches [[Grey-winged Blackbird]] in wing pattern, though the latter lacks the white breast band.
−
Beware leucistic [[Eurasian Blackbird]], however, these lack the pale wing panel.<br /> Juveniles of both species are very similar.
 
 
==Distribution==
 
==Distribution==
−
[[Europe]]. ''ssp Torquatus'' '''Breeds''' in northern [[England]] and [[Scotland]]. Has bred [[Denmark]], and the [[Faroes]].<br /> '''Vagrant''' to [[Iceland]].
+
[[Image:Turdus torquatus alpestris by Indiana.jpg|thumb|350px|right|''T. t. alpestris'', male<br />Photo &copy; by {{user|Indiana|Indiana}} <br />[[Slovakia]]; 21 June 2010]]
 +
Mountains of [[Europe]], southwest [[Asia]], and northern [[Africa]].
 +
 
 +
'''Breeds''' in [[Ireland]] (rare), northern and western [[Britain]], [[Scandinavia]], northwest [[Russia]] (Kola Peninsula), [[Belgium]] (Ardennes; rare), the Pyrenees, the [[Alps]] and Carpathians, and the [[Balkans]] east through [[:Category:Turkey|Turkey]] to the [[Caucasus]] and [[Alborz]] mountains of northern [[Iran]]; small numbers also in the Atlas Mountains. Has bred in [[Denmark]] and the [[Faroes]]. Usually above 1300 m altitude in the Caucasus, above 1000 m in the Alps, above 300 m in Britain, above 250 m in southern Scandinavia, and down to near sea level in northern Scandinavia.
 +
 
 +
'''Migration''' through most of the rest of Europe, including on low ground, but even then still seeks out steep slopes on hills if available - in southern England, more often found on downland slopes inland, rather than on the coast like other migrants.
 +
 
 +
'''Winters''' in mountains around the [[Mediterranean]] (particularly the Atlas Mountains at 1,200-2,700 m) east to southern Iran; small numbers also winter regularly on the higher peaks of the [[Canary Islands]].
 +
 
 +
'''Vagrant''' to [[Iceland]] and Jan Mayen in the north, and [[Israel]] and [[Syria]] to the southeast.
 
==Taxonomy==
 
==Taxonomy==
 +
[[Image:Turdus torquatus amicorum by barty63.jpg|thumb|350px|right|''T. t. amicorum'', female<br />Photo &copy; by {{user|barty63|Mike Barth}} <br />Jebel Hafit, [[United Arab Emirates]]; 10 December 2010]]
 +
Closest relatives may be the [[Grey-winged Blackbird|Grey-winged]] and [[White-collared Blackbird]]s, which occur in the [[Himalaya]].
 
====Subspecies====
 
====Subspecies====
−
There are 3 subspecies<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>:
+
There are three subspecies<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>:
 
*''T. t. torquatus'' (Northern):
 
*''T. t. torquatus'' (Northern):
−
:*[[Scandinavia]], [[Britain]], [[Ireland]] and coastal western [[France]]
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:*[[Scandinavia]], [[Britain]], [[Ireland]] and northwestern [[Russia]]; winters northwest Africa.
−
*''T. t. alpestris'' (Alpine}:
+
::Darkest subspecies, with males nearly black with minimal scaling on body feathers and narrow secondary fringes.
−
*:Mountains of central and southern [[Europe]]; winters to [[Asia Minor]] and [[North Africa]]
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*''T. t. alpestris'' (Alpine):
 +
:*Mountains of central and southern [[Europe]]; winters to [[Asia Minor]] and northwest Africa.
 +
::Body feathers with very obvious scaling; secondary fringes also more obvious.
 
*''T. t. amicorum'' (Caucasian):
 
*''T. t. amicorum'' (Caucasian):
−
:*Caucasus and eastern [[Turkey]] to northern [[Iran]]; winters to southern Iran
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:*Caucasus and eastern [[Turkey]] to northern [[Iran]]; winters to southern Iran.
 +
::Body feathers as ''T. t. torquatus''; secondary fringes very broad, making a near-solid light grey or white panel.
 +
 
 
==Habitat==
 
==Habitat==
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Breeds in most remote, mountainous rocky outcrops usually above 300m.
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Breeds in remote, mountainous rocky outcrops, in thinly wooded or open habitats with a few scattered trees. In winter, strongly tied to juniper (''Juniperus'') woods, where the juniper cones ('berries') are a major food source.
 
==Behaviour==
 
==Behaviour==
−
May be found in small loose flocks on migration.
+
Almost always found on steep slopes, where it uses the contours adeptly to escape predators like [[Peregrine Falcon]]s with ease; usually only on flat ground on migration when no slopes available. Strongly territorial and generally fairly solitary in summer, but may be found in small loose flocks on migration and in winter.
 
====Diet====
 
====Diet====
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Its diet includes insects, earthworms and berries.
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Their diet consists mostly of insects, earthworms and other invertebrates, and from late summer into winter also berries, particularly of rowan and bilberry in late summer, and juniper in autumn and winter.
 
====Breeding====
 
====Breeding====
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It builds a cup-shaped nest in bushes or amongst rocks, laying several pale blue eggs, mottled with brown.
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They construct a cup-shaped nest in bushes or amongst rocks, laying several pale blue eggs, mottled with brown.
 
====Flight====
 
====Flight====
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Rapid and direct. Hops or runs.
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Rapid and direct, often steeply up or down slopes. Hops or runs.
 
====Vocalisation====
 
====Vocalisation====
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'''Call''': a hard "tuk"<br />
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'''Call''': a hard, dry "tuk" or "tuk-tuk-tuk", lacking the more metallic chinking tones of Eurasian Blackbird<br />
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'''Song''': "tcheru", "tchvi", and "ti-cho-o" repeated several times.
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'''Song''': "tcheru", "tchvi", and "ti-cho-o" repeated several times, an evocative sound of desolate mountain slopes.
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<flashmp3>Turdus torquatus (song).mp3</flashmp3><br />
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<br />
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''[[Media:Turdus torquatus (song).mp3|Listen in an external program]]''
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<br />
 +
{{ Audio|Turdus torquatus (song).mp3 }}
 
==References==
 
==References==
−
#{{Ref-Clements6thAug13}}#Wikipedia
+
#{{Ref-Clements6thOct23}}#Birdwatchers Pocket Guide ISBN 1-85732-804-3
−
#Birdwatchers Pocket Guide ISBN 1-85732-804-3
 
 
#Collins Pocket Guide to British Birds 1966
 
#Collins Pocket Guide to British Birds 1966
 
#Collins Field Guide 5th Edition
 
#Collins Field Guide 5th Edition
 +
{{ref}}
 +
 
==External Links==
 
==External Links==
−
{{GSearch|Ouzel+torquatus}}
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{{GSearch|"Turdus torquatus" {{!}}  "Ring Ouzel" {{!}} "Ring Ousel"}}
 +
 
 +
{{GS-checked}}1
 +
<br />
 +
<br />
 +
 
 
[[Category:Birds]] [[Category:Turdus]][[Category:Bird Songs]]
 
[[Category:Birds]] [[Category:Turdus]][[Category:Bird Songs]]

Latest revision as of 08:17, 1 April 2024

Alternative name: Ring Ousel

T. t. torquatus, male
Photo © by Helios
Staines Moor, Surrey; 13 April 2012
Turdus torquatus

Identification

T. t. torquatus, female
Photo © by Rob
Texel, the Netherlands; 17 April 2004

Length 24-27 cm (9-9½ in); weight 90-138 g

  • Slim build and long wings.
  • Yellow bill, darker above at base and blackish tip.
  • White to off-white breast band.
  • Thin white margins on secondary feathers and greater coverts, giving a pale wing panel.
  • White fringes on body contour feathers, giving a 'scaly' appearance (width of fringes varies regionally; see Subspecies, below).
  • Dark brown legs.
  • Male black to blackish-brown with a white breast band.
  • Female browner with greyish flecks and often duller breast band.
  • Juvenile grey-brown with scaly breast band.

Similar species

Eurasian Blackbird is similar in brief appearance, in particular beware leucistic Blackbirds, though these usually lack the pale wing panel and often have additional white patches not shown by Ring Ouzels. Eurasian Blackbird is also dumpier and shorter-winged. Juveniles of both species are very similar, but again the structural differences can help. Subspecies T. t. amicorum approaches Grey-winged Blackbird in wing pattern, though the latter lacks the white breast band.

Distribution

T. t. alpestris, male
Photo © by Indiana
Slovakia; 21 June 2010

Mountains of Europe, southwest Asia, and northern Africa.

Breeds in Ireland (rare), northern and western Britain, Scandinavia, northwest Russia (Kola Peninsula), Belgium (Ardennes; rare), the Pyrenees, the Alps and Carpathians, and the Balkans east through Turkey to the Caucasus and Alborz mountains of northern Iran; small numbers also in the Atlas Mountains. Has bred in Denmark and the Faroes. Usually above 1300 m altitude in the Caucasus, above 1000 m in the Alps, above 300 m in Britain, above 250 m in southern Scandinavia, and down to near sea level in northern Scandinavia.

Migration through most of the rest of Europe, including on low ground, but even then still seeks out steep slopes on hills if available - in southern England, more often found on downland slopes inland, rather than on the coast like other migrants.

Winters in mountains around the Mediterranean (particularly the Atlas Mountains at 1,200-2,700 m) east to southern Iran; small numbers also winter regularly on the higher peaks of the Canary Islands.

Vagrant to Iceland and Jan Mayen in the north, and Israel and Syria to the southeast.

Taxonomy

T. t. amicorum, female
Photo © by Mike Barth
Jebel Hafit, United Arab Emirates; 10 December 2010

Closest relatives may be the Grey-winged and White-collared Blackbirds, which occur in the Himalaya.

Subspecies

There are three subspecies[1]:

  • T. t. torquatus (Northern):
Darkest subspecies, with males nearly black with minimal scaling on body feathers and narrow secondary fringes.
  • T. t. alpestris (Alpine):
  • Mountains of central and southern Europe; winters to Asia Minor and northwest Africa.
Body feathers with very obvious scaling; secondary fringes also more obvious.
  • T. t. amicorum (Caucasian):
  • Caucasus and eastern Turkey to northern Iran; winters to southern Iran.
Body feathers as T. t. torquatus; secondary fringes very broad, making a near-solid light grey or white panel.

Habitat

Breeds in remote, mountainous rocky outcrops, in thinly wooded or open habitats with a few scattered trees. In winter, strongly tied to juniper (Juniperus) woods, where the juniper cones ('berries') are a major food source.

Behaviour

Almost always found on steep slopes, where it uses the contours adeptly to escape predators like Peregrine Falcons with ease; usually only on flat ground on migration when no slopes available. Strongly territorial and generally fairly solitary in summer, but may be found in small loose flocks on migration and in winter.

Diet

Their diet consists mostly of insects, earthworms and other invertebrates, and from late summer into winter also berries, particularly of rowan and bilberry in late summer, and juniper in autumn and winter.

Breeding

They construct a cup-shaped nest in bushes or amongst rocks, laying several pale blue eggs, mottled with brown.

Flight

Rapid and direct, often steeply up or down slopes. Hops or runs.

Vocalisation

Call: a hard, dry "tuk" or "tuk-tuk-tuk", lacking the more metallic chinking tones of Eurasian Blackbird
Song: "tcheru", "tchvi", and "ti-cho-o" repeated several times, an evocative sound of desolate mountain slopes.

References

  1. Clements, J. F., P. C. Rasmussen, T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, T. A. Fredericks, J. A. Gerbracht, D. Lepage, A. Spencer, S. M. Billerman, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2023. The eBird/Clements checklist of Birds of the World: v2023. Downloaded from https://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
  2. Birdwatchers Pocket Guide ISBN 1-85732-804-3
  3. Collins Pocket Guide to British Birds 1966
  4. Collins Field Guide 5th Edition

Recommended Citation

External Links

GSearch checked for 2020 platform.1

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