Song Thrush – Turdus philomelos

The Song Thrush is a species in decline in the UK, formally one of our most familiar birds, it is now a treat to see one….. especially in the garden. At the Caravan Hide (thats Trailer Hide if you are from the US), I can hear hear one singing constantly and there is obviously a nest somewhere very close by because I have seen them carrying moss and grasses. The British Trust for Ornithology describes how they are more common in decidious woodland so it is not surprising that they are in the woodland behind my hide but I rarely if ever see them in my garden whereas 50 years ago you could guarantee to have one. As a boy in around 1955 I well remember that my father taught me the difference between a Blackbirds nest and a Song Thrush. This implies that both nests were easy to find. At the time every young boy, and probably girl would know that the bowl of a Song Thrush nest is lined with mud whereas a Blackbird's has no mud. The eggs are very similar, the same shade of blue but Song Thrush eggs are more heavily spotted than the Blackbirds. Song Thrush eggs are a real thing of beauty.

On the gate in front of the hide.

Collecting nesting material.

It's worth mentioning that a Song Thrush is related to the American Robin (turdus migratorious) which is also a true Thrush. The common American species of large warbler the Water Thrush ((Parkesia sp.) looks very similar and when you compare the two species it's not hard to understand why the first settlers to the Americas , familiar with the Song Thrush from home, gave it that name.

Have a look at the links below which shows some other interesting information about other true Thrush species. Turdus falklandii is a species that I am familiar with from my vists to the Falkland Islands.