The song thrush is a thrush that breeds across the West Palearctic. It has brown upper-parts and black-spotted cream or buff underparts and has four recognised subspecies. Its distinctive song, which has repeated musical phrases, has frequently been referred to in poetry.
Region
Europe and Western Asia
Typical Environment
Breeds widely across the West Palearctic from the British Isles and Scandinavia through much of continental Europe into western Russia and parts of the Caucasus. Winters mainly in southern Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East. Outside its native range, it is established in New Zealand and locally in southeastern Australia. It frequents woodlands, parks, hedgerows, orchards, and gardens, especially where there is dense undergrowth and moist ground for foraging.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 2000 m
Climate Zone
Temperate
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
The song thrush is famed for its rich, fluty song with short phrases repeated two or three times from a high perch. It often uses a favorite ‘anvil’ stone to smash snail shells, a hallmark feeding behavior. Northern populations migrate to southern Europe and North Africa for winter, while birds in milder western Europe can be resident. It has been introduced and is established in New Zealand and parts of Australia.
A parent feeding chicks in their nest in a New Zealand garden
Song thrush in Slovenia
In flight
Juvenile in New Zealand
Juvenile in a forest near Dombaih, Russia (Caucasus Mountains)
Three eggs in a nest
Broken shells of grove snails on an 'anvil'
In New Zealand
Temperament
solitary and territorial
Flight Pattern
direct flight with rapid wingbeats, often low over cover
Social Behavior
Pairs form in spring, with the female building a neat cup nest in a shrub or tree. Typical clutches are 3–5 blue, black-spotted eggs and two or more broods may be raised in a season. Outside breeding, birds may forage alone or in small loose groups, especially where food is abundant. Males defend territories vocally from prominent song perches.
Migratory Pattern
Partial migrant
Song Description
Loud, musical phrases delivered from an exposed perch, with many motifs repeated two or three times in succession. The song is fluty and varied, often incorporating mimicry of other species and environmental sounds.
