Nightingale Bird Facts | Luscinia Megarhynchos

How to identify

Nightingales are slightly larger than Robins, with a robust, broad-tailed, rather plain brown appearance. They are secretive birds and extremely local in their distribution in the UK, while in much of southern Europe they are common and more easily seen. They are known for their melodic song, with a fast succession of high, low and rich notes that few other species can match.

Call

Nightingale

Mathias Ritschard / xeno-canto

Key features to look out for

Plain warm brown above, paler below
Slightly larger than Robins
A robust, broad tail

Conservation status

Nightingales are on the Red List of Birds of Conservation Concern. There are only around 6,700 breeding males left in the UK, which is why finding one feels so special.

Where and when to see them

Difficulty rating - A challenge

Nightingales can be tricky to spot, but your best chance of experiencing their song is in the woodland and scrub of southern and eastern England, mainly south of the Severn-Wash line.