Blackbird or Fieldfare?

These two get mixed up constantly. Here is what actually separates them, taken from each bird's own page.

A female blackbird is plain dark brown with faint mottling, a dull yellowish bill and no grey anywhere. A fieldfare is boldly patterned, with a blue-grey head and rump against a chestnut back, and black chevrons on an ochre breast. Fieldfares also arrive in flocks; blackbirds in gardens are usually singles or pairs.

Side by side

	Blackbird	Fieldfare
Size	About 25cm — the reference bird other species get measured against	Larger than a blackbird — the biggest thrush most gardens will see, and noticeably long-winged and upright.
Where you'll see it	On the lawn, under hedges, in leaf litter, and on the ground below feeders	On lawns, playing fields and under fruit trees in cold weather, and stripping berried hedges. Not a feeder bird.
What it eats	Earthworms and insects in spring; berries and windfall fruit in autumn	Berries and windfall fruit above all, plus earthworms and invertebrates taken from open, unfrozen ground.
When	Resident, all year, with continental birds joining in winter	October to April only. BTO gives arrival on eastern coasts in early October and peak numbers November to March.
Status	Green listed	Red listed

Still not sure? Describe what you saw and we will rank every garden bird against it — including these two.

Both descriptions are taken from the species pages, which cite the BTO and RSPB. Reviewed 2026-09-20.