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Song Thrush (Turdus philomelos) — photo 1 of 5
© Charles J. Sharp CC BY-SA 4.0

Thrushes · Perching birds

Song Thrush

Turdus philomelos

Year-round

Voice

Song

Lionel Triboulin

0:37

Song

Lionel Triboulin

1:01

Song

Lionel Triboulin

0:40

How to recognize it

  • Medium-sized thrush; plain brown upperparts

  • Creamy or yellow-buff underparts with neat black spots

  • Loud song of short musical phrases, each often repeated 2–4 times

  • Often sings from treetops, rooftops, or other high perches

About the species

The Song Thrush is a calm, fairly unobtrusive thrush with a warm brown back and a pale breast covered in dark spots. In towns and parks, it is often easier to hear than to spot, because it likes to sing from a tree, roof, or other high perch.

Its song is long and clear, built from short phrases repeated several times. It also copies other sounds, and when alarmed it gives a sharp, brief call.

It lives in woods, gardens, and parks, especially where there are trees and thick cover. It feeds on worms, snails, berries, and other available food, and many individuals move south for winter.

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Sources