Ring Ouzel
Turdus torquatus
Also known as: Ring Ousel
Habitat
Understory
Diet
Omnivore
Active Time
Diurnal
Size
109 g
About This Species
This upland thrush breeds on rocky moorland, crags and mountain scree across Europe, where the male's dark plumage and pale breast crescent stand out against bare ground. Listen for a simple, piping song from a boulder or gully edge at dawn or dusk, and watch it hop across open turf hunting invertebrates or take berries from rowan and juniper in autumn. Spring through midsummer in upland Britain and continental mountain ranges is the best window, with migration passage in March-April and September-October giving lowland sightings too.
Ethical Viewing Guidelines
- Keep well back from any bird carrying food or behaving anxiously near rocks or heather, since this usually signals a nearby nest, and retreat immediately if you see agitation rather than pressing closer for a better view.
- Nesting wild birds are legally protected from intentional disturbance across the UK and EU, though the specifics of enforcement and buffer distances vary by country, so treat any breeding-season encounter with caution rather than assuming a fixed safe distance.
- Avoid playing recorded calls to draw the bird out, especially during the breeding season.
Seasonal Activity
264,062 sightings · 2000–2026
Citizen science records via GBIF
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Aves
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Turdidae
Traits
- Diet
- Omnivore
- Foraging
- Understory
- Activity
- Diurnal
- Body mass
- 109 g
Photo
(c) Andrew, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
CC-BY-NC-4.0
Occurrence data from GBIF.