
The song thrush (Turdus philomelos) is a thrush species found throughout the West Palearctic, known for its distinctive brown upper-parts and black-spotted cream underparts. It has four recognized subspecies and notable for its melodic song, often cited in poetry. This bird breeds in forests, gardens, and parks and is partially migratory, wintering in southern Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East. Although not globally threatened, its populations have declined in parts of Europe due to changing farming practices.
The song thrush typically measures 20 to 23.5 cm in length and weighs 50 to 107 grams. It builds neat mud-lined nests in bushes or trees, laying four to five blue eggs with dark spots. It is omnivorous and uses stones as tools to break open snail shells. The species has similar European relatives, like the redwing, which can be distinguished by its white supercilium and red flanks.
The song thrush produces a sharp tsip call and a loud, melodic song from elevated perches, especially between February and June. Males may have over 100 phrases in their repertoire, often mimicking other birds and sounds. The bird breeds across most of Europe and prefers wooded areas, gardens, and parks, with its winter habitat similar to breeding grounds, avoiding exposed locations.
Despite not being highly social, they may roost or feed in groups during winter.