Rare passing migrants – ring ouzels

Photo Margit Metstak
Translation: Liis
 
Ring ouzel        Kaelusrästas          Turdus torquatus
 
Ring ouzels nest in the tundra; here in Estonia those that have wintered on the northern shore of the Mediterranean are rather rare passing migrants. In northern Finland about a hundred fifty pairs may breed, from the Kola peninsula there are no data. In April and early May we can meet the migrants in West Estonia or the juniper thickets of Saaremaa.
 
The male migrant birds in the photo have been busy and feeding for two days in Nõva in the same mown grass yard. Compared to the males, female birds have a very modest plumage mottled in dark grey and brown.
 
In appearance the male birds resemble blackbirds but they are a little slimmer, with a longer neck and somewhat narrower wings. On the chest a white “half-moon on its back” (look at the picture) and small white spots in the black plumage. Beak yellow, with a brown tip and edges, eye iris dark brown. The length of an ouzel is about 25 centimetres and the weight 100 grams.
 
Extremely wary birds from whom we hear either a sharp warning call or a resounding ”piiu” cry.
 


 

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