Ring Ouzel (Turdus torquatus)
Species
Ring Ouzel (Turdus torquatus). Male. Taken at Cairn Gorm, Highland, on May 24th 2019.
Male. Taken at Cairn Gorm, Highland, on May 24th 2019.
(1/320th sec at f10. Click image for larger version. © David Hastings)
Ring Ouzel (Turdus torquatus). Female. Taken at Cairn Gorm, Highland, on May 24th 2019.
Female. Taken at Cairn Gorm, Highland, on May 24th 2019.
(1/320th sec at f10. Click image for larger version. © David Hastings)
Ring Ouzel (Turdus torquatus). Juvenile. Taken at Warham Greens, Norfolk, on October 16th 2020.
Juvenile. Taken at Warham Greens, Norfolk, on October 16th 2020.
(1/60th sec at f16. Click image for larger version. © David Hastings)

Description

L: 23 - 24 cm; WS: 38 - 42 cm

The Ring Ouzel is slightly smaller and slimmer than a Blackbird. Males are particularly distinctive with their black plumage with a pale wing panel and striking white breast band. Females are brown, with a much paler breast band.

Ring Ouzels can be found in upland areas of Scotland, northern England, north-west Wales and Dartmoor. When on spring and autumn migration they may be seen away from their breeding areas. They overwinter in the Atlas mountains in Morocco.

Breeding habitat is steep sided-valleys, crags and gullies, from near sea level in the far north of Scotland up to 1,200m in the Cairngorms.

This is a Red list species in the UK. Around 6350 pairs breed here.

Sightings

11-Apr-2021 : Aston Rowant NNR, Oxon (2m)

16-Oct-2020 : Warham Greens, Norfolk (1juv)

24-May-2019 : Cairngorm, Highland (2)
13-Apr-2019 : Aston Rowant NNR, Oxon (3m,1f)

10-Apr-2016 : Aston Rowant NNR, Oxon (2+)

18-Apr-2015 : Aston Rowant NNR, Oxon (8+)

18-Apr-2014 : Aston Rowant NNR, Oxon (1f)

07-May-2012 : Aston Upthorpe Downs, Oxon (1)