Song Thrush

Turdus philomelos

Least ConcernCommonOmnivoreForestCup nestMedium · 68 g

About the Song Thrush

The song thrush is a thrush that breeds across the West Palearctic. It has brown upperparts and black-spotted cream or buff underparts and has four recognised subspecies. Its distinctive song, which features repeated musical phrases, has frequently been referenced in poetry.

Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

ID tip

The song thrush (as represented by the nominate subspecies T. p. philomelos) is 20 to 23.5 centimetres (7+3⁄4 to 9+1⁄4 inches) in length and weighs 50 to 107 grams (1+3⁄4 to 3+3⁄4 ounces). The sexes are similar, with plain brown backs and neatly black-spotted cream or yellow-buff underparts, becoming paler on the belly. The underwing is warm yellow, the bill is yellowish and the legs and feet are pink. The upperparts of this species become colder in tone from west to east across the breeding range from Sweden to Siberia.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

What the Song Thrush sounds like

Recording: Philippe_Grange · CC0 · via xeno-canto
Recording: Lionel Triboulin · CC0 · via xeno-canto
Recording: Lionel Triboulin · CC0 · via xeno-canto

Where it lives

Regular rangeRare visitor

Recorded as a rare visitor in United States, India, Japan, Canada, Monaco, Djibouti, Myanmar (Burma), Uzbekistan, Yemen.

When to see it

Peak activity in April · a resident species across most of its range

Easily confused with

Side by side: American Robin vs Song Thrush · Common Blackbird vs Song Thrush · Fieldfare vs Song Thrush · Redwing vs Song Thrush · Mistle Thrush vs Song Thrush

Learn the Song Thrush for real

BeakBrain drills you on photos and calls until you can greet this bird by name in the field. Free to play, on any device.

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