Focus on... Ring Ouzels
18 May 2016
Ring Ouzel is a widespread breeding bird in montane areas of central Europe and Scandinavia. Around 7,000 pairs breed in Britain and Ireland, the majority in Scotland and northern England. However, the species was formerly much more widespread and is undergoing a long-term decline, possibly due to poor first year and adult bird survival.
Ring recoveries have shown that Ring Ouzels breeding in Britain spend the winter in Iberia and north Africa, beginning their return migration in February. The first birds arrive here from early March, with a peak later in the month. Birds passing through in late April and May are likely to be Scandinavian breeders. Although coastal sites are a good place to look for migrant Ring Ouzels, they are also occasionally found in suburban gardens. A good way to discover your own is to listen for their distinctive call.
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