About the Common Nightingale
The common nightingale, rufous nightingale or simply nightingale, is a small passerine bird which is best known for its powerful and beautiful song. An Old World flycatcher, it belongs to a group of more terrestrial species, often called chats. Its range partly overlaps with that of the more northerly thrush nightingale, a closely related species with which hybrids have occurred.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
ID tip
The common nightingale is slightly larger than the European robin, at 15–16.5 cm (5.9–6.5 in) length. It is plain brown above except for the reddish tail. It is buff to white below. The sexes are similar. The eastern subspecies (L. m. golzi) and the Caucasian subspecies (L. m. africana) have paler upper parts and a stronger face-pattern, including a pale supercilium. The song of the male nightingale has been described as one of the most beautiful sounds in nature, inspiring songs, fairy tales, opera, books, and a great deal of poetry.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
What the Common Nightingale sounds like
Where the Common Nightingale lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in Finland, Ireland, Chad, Yemen.
When to see the Common Nightingale
Peak activity in May · a summer visitor species across most of its range
Easily confused with
BluethroatLuscinia svecicaThe male plumage is brightest in spring and summer; after the summer moult, the fresh new feathers have pale tips which obscure the throat pattern.
Thrush NightingaleLuscinia lusciniaAn adult thrush nightingale is about 16 centimetres (6.3 in) long with a wingspan of approximately 18 centimetres (7.1 in).
Side by side: Bluethroat vs Common Nightingale · Common Nightingale vs Thrush Nightingale
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