Fieldfare or Song Thrush?

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

Fieldfare

Turdus pilaris

Turdus philomelos

A fieldfare is larger, with a blue-grey head and rump contrasting with a chestnut back — a two-tone look no song thrush has.

	Fieldfare	Song Thrush
Size	Larger than a blackbird — the biggest thrush most gardens will see, and noticeably long-winged and upright.	Smaller than a blackbird, about 23cm, neat and compact with a short tail.
Where you'll see it	On lawns, playing fields and under fruit trees in cold weather, and stripping berried hedges. Not a feeder bird.	On lawns and borders, and singing from the top of a tree, TV aerial or roof ridge.
What it eats	Berries and windfall fruit above all, plus earthworms and invertebrates taken from open, unfrozen ground.	Earthworms, snails and other invertebrates; berries and windfall fruit in autumn and winter.
When	October to April only. BTO gives arrival on eastern coasts in early October and peak numbers November to March.	Resident all year, with song starting as early as late December and peaking in spring.
Status	Red listed	Amber 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.