Rather large, subtly attractive thrush with blue-gray head, dark chestnut-brown back, gray rump, and variable peachy-buff wash on spotted breast. Breeds in forested habitats, often favoring wooded areas adjacent to more open foraging grounds; in winter, found mainly in open woodland, farmland with hedges, orchards, and parkland. Often breeds colonially and sometimes retains social habits on wintering grounds, mixing with Redwings and other thrushes in fields or in fruiting trees. Song is relatively unlovely for a thrush, a series of scratchy and garbled phrases. Call is a dry and powerful “chakchak”, rather like an old camera.