Ring Ouzel

Turdus torquatus

Scarce & local Summer visitors March-November of 6,900 breeding pairs in the uplands of Britain & declining.

Uncommon migrant.

Also breeds in mainland Europe.

Winters in North Africa.

The plumage of the Male of the nominate race is entirely black except for a conspicuous white crescent on the breast, narrow greyish scaling on the upperparts and belly and pale edges to the wing feathers.

The Female resembles the male but is browner and with a duller breast band.

Juveniles are like the Female, but with a faint or non-existent breast crescent.

The song consists of a repetition of 2–4 plaintive fluty notes, tri-ríí, tri-ríí, ti-ríí with pauses between repeats.

The call is a loud tac-tac-tac.