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Song Thrush Turdus philomelos [CL Brehm, 1831]
Other Names
Trends & Distribution
Breeding & Survival
Biometrics
Books & Links
Order:
Passeriformes
Family:
Turdidae
BTO Codes:
ST , SONTH
EURING No:
12000
Number in Britain:
1 million territories (Summer)
Conservation Status:
UK:
RED
European:
Not a species of concern
Global:
Least Concern
View video clips from
IBC
Status in UK:
(A) Migrant/Resident Breeder, Passage/Winter Visitor
Subspecies:
hebridensis (RB), clarkei (RBW), philomelos (W) recorded in Britain (of 4 subsp. in the world)
.
Length:
23 cm
Wingspan:
34 cm
Weight:
M/F: 83 g
Scientific name from:
L.: turdus =a thrush
and after Philomela, in Greek myth, who was turned into a nighingale (from philos =lover + melos =song)
World Distribution:
Europe & w Asia, INTRODUCED: Australia
Habitat:
Woodland, scrub, towns
Diet:
Invertebrates esp. earthworms, fruit, snails during drought/hard weather
TitBit:
As its name suggests this bird is an accomplished songster, easily recognised by its habit of reapeating phrases (each individual has about 100 to draw one); so much so that settlers to it to the Antipodes to remind them of home, althought they did not thr
ive in Australia they are now one of the commonest garden birds in New Zealand
Population and Distribution
Population Trend:
Regional Trends:
Distribution:
New Atlas )
British Population Size:
Summer:
1 million territories
in 2000
First Record:
8th Century
[Fossil evidence from
Habitat Occupancy (in the Breeding Season):
Most frequent in:
Deciduous Wood
Also common in:
Scrub, Villages, Coniferous Wood
And found in:
Pasture Farmland, Towns
Relative Frequency in Each Habitat:
European Population Size:
Summer:
14 to 26 million pairs
(Trend in Numbers )
Birds in Europe
Listed on the Appendices/Schedules of:
WCA(III), WBD(II*), Bern(III), Bonn(II)
Survey Results:
Breeding and Survival
Egg Size:
27 x 20 mm
Egg Weight:
6.0 g (of which 6 % is shell)
Number of Nest Records:
689
Clutch Size:
4 eggs
4.10 ± 0.67 (2 - 7) N = 5910
Incubation:
14 - 15 days
14.18 ± 1.23 (12 - 17) N = 5910
by the:
Female
Fledging:
14 - 15 days
14.01 ± 1.15 (12 - 16) N = 6367
as:
Altricial, downy
Source:
British Trust for Ornithology (2005) Nest Record Scheme data
First Clutches Laid:
21 Apr (21 Mar - 21 Jun)
Number of Broods:
2-3(4)
Trends in Breeding Productivity
Number Ringed:
7352
Adult Survival:
0.622
Juvenile Survival:
0.546 (in First-Year)
Age at First Breeding:
1
year
Typical Lifespan:
3
years
Maximum Recorded Age:
10yr8m
Biometrics
Ring Size:
CC
Wing Length
Adult:
119.1 ± 3.2
Range
114 - 124 mm, N =12726
Juvenile:
118.6 ± 2.9
114 - 123 mm, N =17201
Male:
120.1 ± 3.2
115 - 125 mm, N =2915
Female:
118.0 ± 2.9
113 - 123 mm, N =2063
Weight
Adult:
74.95 ± 7.81
Range
64.00 - 90.00 g , N =10489
Juvenile:
72.53 ± 8.12
59.00 - 86.00 g , N =13969
Male:
77.69 ± 6.84
67.00 - 90.00 g , N =1669
Female:
71.02 ± 4.65 .
64.00 - 79.00 g , N =2339
Source:
British Trust for Ornithology (2005) Ringing Scheme data
Other Names
Gaelic:
Smeňrach
Welsh:
Bronfraith
Danish:
Sangdrossel
Dutch:
Zanglijster
Finnish:
Laulurastas
French:
Grive musicienne
German:
Singdrossel
Hungarian:
Énekes rigó
Icelandic:
Söngţröstur
Irish:
Smólach Ceoil
Italian:
Tordo
Norwegian:
Mĺltrost
Polish:
Drozd spiewak (spiewak)
Portuguese:
Tordo-comum
Spanish:
Zorzal común
Swedish:
Taltrast
Local Names: Mavis
For More Information...
Books and Monographs:
Simms, E. 1978 British Thrushes Collins, London
[598.911 SIM]
Sheeham, A. 1976 The Song Thrush Angus & Robertson
Simms, E. 1989 The Song Thrush Shire Publications, Princes Risborough
[Jour: S]
See Also:
BirdFacts home | BTO Home birdfacts@bto.org These data should be cited as:
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