January Redwings

I've been seeing more and more of these around since they've been talked about on the site and I now know what they are. Having one close up in our garden was a treat.

A very sad sight on Wednesday once all of the snow on the verges had cleared was the number of dead birds including many redwings. I did get to spot a couple of 'live' lapwings as well in one of the fields. The redwing is our smallest true thrush, (meaning it looks like a thrush) however our smallest member of the thrush family is the common robin.

Robin (European) Erithacus rubecula, formerly classed as a member of the thrush family; now redefined as an Old World flycatcher (Muscicapidae).
N American Robin however is unquestionably of a different species turdus migratorius, of the thrush family Turdidae.

@ treeve. Which authority has redefined the robin? According to the RSPB it is still a member of the thrush and chats family and has been listed as such for this years Garden Watch on 30th and 31st of January.

I am no ornithologist, but it was what was sent to me by an ornithologist, when I asked why the different family names. Maybe an email to the RSPB will identify the reasoning.
pop 'Robin old world flycatcher ' into google.
For me it has a completely different behaviour pattern, but the same can be said for many humans.

I have just written to RSPB
also to the British Ornithologists' Union

The British robin Erithacus rubecula is a different species to Muscicapi rubecola the robin flycatcher as described in 1838 by William Stevenson.

We took part in the garden watch last year at work and will hope to do so again this year possibly here in Paul. We have a bird table outside of the kitchen window which is well used. Camera and wild bird food at the ready.

my enquiry ..
A discussion has arisen regading Robins (European) and as to why they
are considered to be 'a thrush' when their family name is not the same
as the Turdidae. Their behaviour is wildly different from that of a
thrush. I have a reference that they are an 'Old World Flycatcher' in
fact? Looking at Muscicapidae, they differ remarkably from Thrushes and
have a greater affinity with our Robin.

answer received from
Darren Oakley-Martin
Wildlife Adviser
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds

Both the thrushes and the Robin belong to the family of birds known as
the Turdidae on account of several biological, morphological and
behavioural similarities (ground-feeding, bill shape, nocturnal
migration, ability to forage in low light, position and arrangement of
legs and feet etc).

However, the thrushes and Robin belong to different genera - a further
subdivision - the thrushes and the chats. So the Robin belongs to the
same genus as Redstart, Whinchat and Stonechat, for example.

Muscicapidae (the flycatchers) are also subdivided into two genera - the
Muscicapa flycatchers and the Ficedula flycatchers. Ther Muscicapidae
are themselves as distinct a family as are the Turdidae.

Breaking a species of birds down into genus starts to make things very complicated, (for example)Genus

• • European Robin, Erithacus rubecula
  • Japanese Robin, Erithacus akahige
  • Ryukyu Robin, Erithacus komadori

Genus Phoenicurus ,

• • Ala Shan Redstart , Phoenicurus alaschanicus
  • Rufous-backed Redstart , Phoenicurus erythronota
  • Blue-capped Redstart , Phoenicurus caeruleocephalus
  • Black Redstart, Phoenicurus ochruros
  • Common Redstart, Phoenicurus phoenicurus
  • Hodgson's Redstart , Phoenicurus hodgsoni
  • White-throated Redstart , Phoenicurus schisticeps
  • Daurian Redstart , Phoenicurus auroreus
  • Moussier's Redstart, Phoenicurus moussieri
  • White-winged Redstart , Phoenicurus erythrogaster
  • Blue-fronted Redstart , Phoenicurus frontalis

Genus Chaimarrornis ,

• • White-capped Redstart , Chaimarrornis leucocephalus

Genus Rhyacornis ,

• • Plumbeous Redstart , Rhyacornis fuliginosus
  • Luzon Redstart , Rhyacornis bicolor

Genus Hodgsonius

• • White-bellied Redstart , Hodgsonius phaenicuroides

and is beyond the realms of knowledge I have on birds. As you can see Erithacus to which our robin belongs is in a completely different section to redstarts and flycatchers of which the list can go on and on depending on if they are fork tailed, ground feeders, flight feeders, ground feeders. etc. etc. I am observing and recording the different birds visiting our table and feeders as part of the 'Big Garden Birdwatch' which is running all over the UK this weekend. Nothing spectacular as yet just the usual array of small brown birds, tits, finches and jackdaws. No sign of the blackcap that was around at Christmas. I am no ornithologist, with regards to wildlife I just have an interest in what goes on around me in the gardens and when out walking.You won't catch me standing for hours in the rain to catch a glimse of a lesser yellow spotted warbled treecreeper or whatever.

Possibly the lesser yellow spotted warbled treecreeper may not like the rain either !!
Many thanks for that clarity of listing. That little visitor ushered in some facts that show our feathered friends have a complicated tree. They are still around in Alverton.