Redwing

Redwing (Turdus iliacus) is a small thrush with a strong cream eyebrow, streaked pale breast and conspicuous rusty-red flanks and underwings. Body shape, bill structure, plumage pattern and voice provide the strongest field characters. Age, sex and season may alter its appearance, so identification should combine several features and careful direct field comparisons with similar species in the same habitat (Wikipedia, general species account).

It breeds across northern European and Asian woodland, migrates south in flocks and feeds on earthworms and insects on open ground and on berries in hedges and trees during winter. Its movements and social behaviour vary through the year, with breeding birds generally more dispersed and non-breeding birds gathering where food is concentrated. Japanese records place it within the country's documented avifauna as a resident, migrant or visitor (Wikipedia, general species account; Wildlife of Japan occurrence records).