About the Thrush Nightingale
The thrush nightingale, also known as the sprosser, is a small passerine bird in the Old World flycatcher family. It is a migratory species breeding in forests in Europe and the Palearctic and overwintering in Africa. An insectivore, it nests near the ground in dense undergrowth. Its distribution is more northerly than the very closely related common nightingale, which it closely resembles in appearance. Hybrids between the two have occurred in areas where their ranges overlap.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
ID tip
An adult thrush nightingale is about 16 centimetres (6.3 in) long with a wingspan of approximately 18 centimetres (7.1 in). The head, nape and the whole of the upper parts of the thrush nightingale are dark brown with a slight olive tinge. The colour is much deeper than that of the nightingale and is not at all rufous. The upper tail-coverts are less olivaceous and the tail feathers are dark rufous-brown. The lores and ear-coverts are brownish-black and the chin and throat are pale buff or whitish, mottled with brown, and are paler in colour than the nightingale. Voice: The male's song is loud, with a range of whistles, trills and clicks and includes a flute-like "pioo" with a pure bell-like tone. It is sometimes interrupted by a rasping "dserr" sound and is rather solemn as compared to that of the common nightingale. The song does not have that bird's loud whistling crescendo and is quite distinctive. It is also sometimes sung in the bird's winter quarters.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
What the Thrush Nightingale sounds like
Where the Thrush Nightingale lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in Belgium, Netherlands, France, Luxembourg, Libya, Albania, Switzerland, Croatia, Djibouti, Spain, Iceland.
When to see the Thrush 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.
Common NightingaleLuscinia megarhynchosThe common nightingale is slightly larger than the European robin, at 15–16.5 cm (5.9–6.5 in) length.
Side by side: Common Nightingale vs Thrush Nightingale · Bluethroat vs Thrush Nightingale
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