Song Thrush

Turdus philomelos

With its melodious repertoire of over 100 distinct phrases, this speckled snail-loving songster fills gardens and woodlands with enchanting tunes across its range.

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Visual Identification

Appearance

The Song Thrush is a medium-sized bird with a warm brown upper body and pale buff underparts marked with distinctive dark brown triangular spots. Its head features large, dark eyes and a slightly curved bill, which is dark above but yellowish below and at the gape.

Both sexes look similar, with juveniles having a more speckled appearance. The bird maintains consistent plumage throughout the year, with no significant seasonal changes. Their legs are pinkish, and their eyes are large and black.

Size

Length

20cm to 23cm

Wingspan

33cm to 36cm

Weight

65g to 100g

Colours

Males and females have similar plumage

Primary Colour

Brown

Secondary Colour

Buff White

Beak Colour

Brown

Leg Colour

Pink

Habitat and Distribution

Habitats

Woodland

The Song Thrush can be found in Woodland habitats.

Garden

The Song Thrush can be found in Garden habitats.

Wetland

The Song Thrush is not typically found in Wetland habitats.

Coastal

The Song Thrush is not typically found in Coastal habitats.

Urban

The Song Thrush is not typically found in Urban habitats.

Farmland

The Song Thrush can be found in Farmland habitats.

Grassland

The Song Thrush is not typically found in Grassland habitats.

Desert

The Song Thrush is not typically found in Desert habitats.

Tundra

The Song Thrush is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

Rainforest

The Song Thrush is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

Mountain

The Song Thrush is not typically found in Mountain habitats.

Savanna

The Song Thrush is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

Distribution

Song Thrushes inhabit woodlands, gardens, parks, and hedgerows across Europe, extending into parts of western Asia. They prefer areas with trees or shrubs for nesting and open ground for foraging.

In the UK, they are widespread residents and regular garden visitors, with some birds migrating south in winter. Continental European populations tend to be more migratory, moving to southern Europe and North Africa during colder months.

They were also introduced to New Zealand and South Eastern Australia in the mid-1800s and are still present today.

Elevation Range

Up to 2,800 meters

Climate zones

Temperate, Subtropical

Distribution Map

This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Song Thrush. 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