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Nightingale Luscinia megarhynchos [CL Brehm, 1831]
Other Names
Trends & Distribution
Breeding & Survival
Biometrics
Books & Links
Order:
Passeriformes
Family:
Turdidae
BTO Codes:
N., NIGAL
EURING No:
11040
Number in Britain:
7500 males (Summer)
Conservation Status:
UK:
AMBER
European:
Not a species of concern
Global:
Least Concern
Links to: Images
Videos
Sound
Status in UK:
(A) Migrant Breeder, Passage Visitor
Subspecies:
megarhynchos (BW), golzii (V) recorded in Britain (of 4 subsp. in the world)
.
Length:
16 cm
Wingspan:
24 cm
Weight:
M/F: 21 g
Scientific name from:
L.: luscinia =nightingale
and Gr.: megas + rhunkhos =bill
World Distribution:
BREEDS: Europe (except n), cw Asia, WINTERS: tropical Africa
Habitat:
Thickets
Diet:
Insects, esp. beetles and ants, also berries in autumn
TitBit:
It is unlikely that Vera Lynn ever heard a Nightingale singing in Berkeley Square, it was much more likely to have been a Robin, which also sings at night
Population and Distribution
Population Trend:
Regional Trends:
No regional trends available
Distribution:
New Atlas )
British Population Size:
Summer:
5600 to 9350 males
in 1999
First Record:
7th Century
[Fossil evidence from
Devensian (last) glaciation, 10-120,000 yr ago]
Latest Survey:
Wilson, A.M. et al. (2002) Bird Study 49:193-204
Conservation Status:
AMBER
because
Recent Breeding Population Decline (1981-2007),
Previous Assessments:
2002-2007
AMBER
1996-2001
AMBER
Races of Concern:
megarhynchos AMBER (Recent Decline)
Habitat Occupancy (in the Breeding Season):
No habitat data from BBS
European Population Size:
Summer:
3.2 to 7 million pairs
Birds in Europe
Listed on the Appendices/Schedules of:
Bern(III),Bonn(II)
Breeding and Survival
Egg Size:
21 x 16 mm
Egg Weight:
2.7 g (of which 6 % is shell)
Number of Nest Records:
5
Clutch Size:
4 - 5 eggs
4.63 ± 0.73 (2 - 6) N = 111
Incubation:
14- 14 days
13.75 ± 0.83 (12 - 15.5) N = 111
by the:
Female
Fledging:
11 - 13days
11.98 ± 1.12 (10 - 14) N = 216
as:
Altricial, downy
Source:
British Trust for Ornithology (2005) Nest Record Scheme data
First Clutches Laid:
13 May (5 May - 6 Jun)
Number of Broods:
1-2
Trends in Breeding Productivity
Number Ringed:
191
Adult Survival:
0.463
± 0.043
Juvenile Survival:
No data
Age at First Breeding:
1
year
Typical Lifespan:
2
years
Maximum Recorded Age:
7yr 1m
(Spain: 10yr 11m)
Biometrics
Ring Size:
A (pulli B)
Wing Length
Adult:
83.3 ± 2.3
Range
80 - 87 mm, N =653
Juvenile:
82.7 ± 2.3
79 - 86 mm, N =126
Male:
84.3 ± 2.1
81 - 88 mm, N =298
Female:
82.1 ± 2.1
78 - 85 mm, N =155
Weight
Adult:
21.12 ± 1.92
Range
18.40 - 24.40 g , N =528
Juvenile:
22.64 ± 2.54
19.20 - 27.00 g , N =114
Male:
21.26 ± 1.58
19.00 - 23.90 g , N =245
Female:
21.06 ± 2.38 .
18.00 - 26.00 g , N =108
Source:
British Trust for Ornithology (2005) Ringing Scheme data
Other Names
Common Nightingale
Gaelic:
Seiniolach
Welsh:
Eos
Danish:
Sydlig nattergal
Dutch:
Nachtegaal
Finnish:
Etelänsatakieli
French:
Rossignol philomèle
German:
Nachtigall
Hungarian:
Fülemüle
Icelandic:
Næturgali
Irish:
Filiméala
Italian:
Usignolo
Norwegian:
Sørnattergal
Polish:
Slowik rdzawy
Portuguese:
Rouxinol-comum
Spanish:
Ruiseñor común
Swedish:
Sydnäktergal
Local Names: Barley Bird
Collective Noun: Watch
For More Information...
Books and Monographs:
Pike, O.G. 1932 The Nightingale, its story and song etc Arrowsmith, London
[591.76 PIK]
See Also:
BirdFacts home | BTO Home birdfacts@bto.org These data should be cited as:
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