Nightingale

Luscinia megarhynchos

The virtuoso of the bird world, this small songbird's melodious voice can fill an entire forest with its rich, complex tunes.

Visual Identification

Appearance

The Nightingale is a small, unassuming bird with a plain brown plumage. Its upperparts are a warm russet-brown, while the underparts are slightly paler. The tail has a distinctive rufous tinge, especially noticeable in flight. The beak is grey with a pale pink base, and the legs are pink as well.

Males and females are virtually identical in appearance. Juveniles resemble adults but may have some subtle spotting on their upperparts. The Nightingale's most striking feature is its large, dark eye, contrasting with its plain plumage.

Size

Length

15cm to 16.5cm

Wingspan

23cm to 26cm

Weight

18g to 27g

Colours

Males and females have similar plumage

Primary Colour

Brown

Secondary Colour

Rufous

Beak Colour

Brown

Leg Colour

Pink

Habitat and Distribution

Habitats

Woodland

The Nightingale can be found in Woodland habitats.

Garden

The Nightingale can be found in Garden habitats.

Wetland

The Nightingale is not typically found in Wetland habitats.

Coastal

The Nightingale is not typically found in Coastal habitats.

Urban

The Nightingale is not typically found in Urban habitats.

Farmland

The Nightingale is not typically found in Farmland habitats.

Grassland

The Nightingale is not typically found in Grassland habitats.

Desert

The Nightingale is not typically found in Desert habitats.

Tundra

The Nightingale is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

Rainforest

The Nightingale is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

Mountain

The Nightingale is not typically found in Mountain habitats.

Savanna

The Nightingale is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

Distribution

Nightingales inhabit dense deciduous woodlands, thickets, and overgrown gardens across Europe and parts of Asia. They prefer areas with thick undergrowth and a carpet of leaf litter for foraging.

In the UK, Nightingales are found mainly in southeast England, arriving in April and departing in August. They winter in sub-Saharan Africa, making them true long-distance migrants.

Elevation Range

Up to 1,400 meters

Climate zones

Temperate, Mediterranean

Distribution Map

This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Nightingale. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.

A few things to keep in mind:

Birds might not be everywhere in the coloured areas, for example, they may be present around the coast of that country
Where birds live can change with seasons and available food
This map is quite simple - it doesn't show exact locations

We're working on making our maps even better! Soon, we hope to show you:

More detailed maps for bigger countries, including state and region
How birds move around during different seasons