Luscinia luscinia
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Mass
~25 g
Habitat
Shrublands
Diet
Insects and invertebrates
How to recognize it
The thrush nightingale is a modest-looking singer that is easier to notice by voice and habit than by plumage. It stays tucked into dense cover, and when it does show itself, the upright tail and quick bows are often more telling than appearance.
Its song is loud and varied, built from whistles, trills, and clicks. The call is short and abrupt, and males may sing from evening into the quiet of the night, often from a good distance apart.
It favors damp woods, low river forests, alder thickets, and tangles of shrubs near water. It feeds mainly on insects, spiders, and worms, adds berries in autumn, and leaves for Africa south of the Sahara in winter.
Quick Facts
Listen to the call
The thrush nightingale is a modest-looking singer that is easier to notice by voice and habit than by plumage. It stays tucked into dense cover, and when it does show itself, the upright tail and quick bows are often more telling than appearance.
Its song is loud and varied, built from whistles, trills, and clicks. The call is short and abrupt, and males may sing from evening into the quiet of the night, often from a good distance apart.
It favors damp woods, low river forests, alder thickets, and tangles of shrubs near water. It feeds mainly on insects, spiders, and worms, adds berries in autumn, and leaves for Africa south of the Sahara in winter.
