The RSPB: Song thrush

Song thrush

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Latin name

Turdus philomelos

Family

Chats and thrushes (Turdidae)

Overview

A familiar and popular garden songbird whose numbers are declining seriously, especially on farmland making it a Red List species. Smaller and browner than a mistle thrush with smaller spotting. Its habit of repeating song phrases distinguish it from singing blackbirds. It likes to eat snails which it breaks into by smashing them against a stone with a flick of the head.

Where to see them

Woods, hedgerows, parks and gardens across the UK - wherever there are bushes and trees.

When to see them

All year round.

What they eat

Worms, snails and fruit.

Estimated numbers

Europe	UK breeding*	UK wintering*	UK passage*
-	1,144,000 territories	-	-

* UK breeding is the number of pairs breeding annually. UK wintering is the number of individuals present from October to March. UK passage is the number of individuals passing through on migration in spring and/or autumn.

Distribution

Key

Please note that the map is only intended as a guide. It shows general distribution rather than detailed, localised populations.

Find out more

Audio is from commercial recordings Bird Songs and Calls of Britain and Europe on 4 CDs or Bird Sounds of Europe & North-west Africa, copyright WildSounds & CEBA (www.wildsounds.com, (UK) +44 (0) 1263 741100)