Redwing  Turdus iliacus

Little Marlow GP - December 2004

Photos copyright Adrian Parker

This

Whitchurch - 27th February 2000

Photos copyright Tim Watts

This species is a common winter visitor to the county but a melanistic bird is certainly very scarce.  The bird was with a small flock of mixed thrushes including other Redwings, Fieldfares and Mistle Thrushes and when first found was a bit of an identification problem!
 
The main identification features were; Breast was blackish with black streaks;   Faint eyestripe mainly behind the eye; An obvious pale throat; Tertials edged with cream forming an obvious panel.  It's behaviour was similar to the other Redwings but it did tend to stay on the edge of the main flock.