With a very unusual name, the ring ouzel has quite a common close relation. If you look closely you will see it resembles in stature one of our most prolific Peak District birds, the common blackbird. It is a little more robust and likes to travel further afield than our garden dwellers, but as you can see from our stunning photographs provided by one of our viewers, a striking resemblance is definitely there. It is known as the upland equivalent of the blackboard, liking much rougher terrains and being out in the wilderness. The male is very like its cousin in appearance, but the ring ouzel has a conspicuous white breast band and pale fringes to the wing feathers. Both the male and female are very scaly looking underneath and you’ll notice their wings are paler than their body.

This little bird likes to breed in gullies, amongst rocky areas or scree slopes, and it also like the moors and mountainous areas, especially around rocky inland coves or outcrops. It isn’t surprising that these photographs were taken in and around the wonderful wild wilderness that is Padley Gorge in the Peak District, a perfect habitat for this bird it seems.

An ‘ousel is in fact an old name for the common blackbird which is taken from the old English ‘osle.’ It is also used to describe a similar looking but totally unrelated bird, the dipper, and it has a European version, of which is sometimes known as the ‘water ouzel’.

The muscle in male form is all black except for a very distinctive white crescent on the breast and a very yellow bill like the blackbird and the wings have a beautiful silvery appearance due to its wonderfully white feather edgings. The female is similar in shape and stature but much duller looking and the little fledglings are born with brown plumage and don’t have the distinctive ring until they get older.

The ring ouzel song can be very loud but it is also sounds quite mournful sounding, especially if you are in the middle of trees and rocks such as Padley, and you hear it all alone.

As with the English name, the scientific name refers to the male and is quite obvious – ‘white neck present.’ It comes from the Latin words ‘tordus’ or ‘thrush.’ And so we realise that like its cousin, the blackbird, the ring ouzel is part of the thrush family.

It is usually territorial and normally seen alone or with its mate, although sometimes if you are lucky, loose flocks may form when they migrate. When it isn’t breeding, several birds may also come together, especially other thrushes. Breeding begins in mid April and continues through to mid July, and it usually has two broods if the weather is favourable.

It is an omnivorous bird, eating a huge range of insects, earthworms, rodents, lizards and berries, basically anything it can find in the wild. It likes to nest in bushes or amongst rocks, and lays its eggs in a neat cup shaped nest which is usually found located on or close to the ground in vegetation such as heather, in a crevice but rarely ever in  a tree. The eggs are pale blue and mottled with brown and the young are fed a diet consisting of mainly earthworms and beetles.

They usually arrive with us in March and April, and leave around the end of September, enjoying our summer climate and can be found in other areas of northern England, North West Wales and Dartmoor when they are on their spring and autumn migration. They can sometimes be seen away from their breeding areas, often on the East and South coast of the UK where they do seem to like very short and grassy areas. These birds are very popular in southern Europe and move to lower altitudes in winter. Other birds migrate south to Iberia and Northern Africa. In this country, it can be found near sea level in the far north of Scotland up to 1200 m in the Cairngorms.

These birds are very popular in southern Europe and move to lower altitudes in winter. Other birds migrate south to Iberia and Northern Africa. In this country, it can be found near sea level in the far north of Scotland up to 1200 m in the Cairngorms.

If you get to see a ring ouzel in the Peak District then you are very lucky indeed. It is a beautiful little bird and wonderful to know it shares its home with us here in the warm summer months before it leaves us and escapes our cold winter. Catch it while you can and see if you can spot it around Padley- you may just hear it first!

© Photography copyright Mandy West (the photography within this section is taken by Mandy West