Ring Ouzel

Seen one? Add it to your free UK BirdedexHear its song and see the mapFree, no app download. Rare bird: +8 points when you log it.

Habitat and behaviour

Habitat: Upland moorland.
Diet: Invertebrates, berries.
Best time to spot: "Mountain blackbird".

When to look

A summer visitor, typically in the UK from March to October. Numbers peak in April. See the April birding guide for what else is about. More on the season in Bird migration in Britain.

Taller bars mean more birds about. Grey means it is usually absent.

How rare is it?

The Ring Ouzel sits in our Rare tier for the UK: scarce or very local, so most birders need a planned trip. It is Red-listed in Birds of Conservation Concern 5, the highest level of concern in the UK. It is protected under Schedule 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, so it is an offence to disturb it at or near the nest. We blur the location of every sighting of this species.

Recent UK sightings

Similar birds

• American RobinEpic · Gardens
• Black-throated ThrushEpic · Open woodland (very rare)
• BlackbirdCommon · Gardens
• Dusky ThrushLegendary · Woodland (very rare)
• Eyebrowed ThrushEpic · Woodland (very rare)
• FieldfareUncommon · Hedgerows

Kit that helps

Best binoculars for UK birding. Affiliate links, our own picks, no extra cost to you.