Song Thrush (Turdus philomelos)

OTHER NAMES: Thirstle, Throstle, Whistling Thrush

Latin Etymology: Turdus ("thrush") philomelos ("nightingale")

Adult Song Thrush (subspecies T. p. clarkei) at Gardens of Heligan, Cornwall - April 2015

Featured Subspecies: Turdus philomelos clarkei
Weight: 50-107g  /  Length: 20-23.5cm  /  Wingspan: 33-36cm

UK RED LIST / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

After the blackbird, the song thrush is the most numerous of our resident thrushes - it is more delicate in size and appearance than it's relation the mistle thrush. It feeds on snails and can frequently be found bashing them against stones to break their shells. Apparently it is declining in the UK, but is still a regular sight in appropriate habitats.  As their name suggests they are fairly impressive singers, and their call can often help locate them in high trees.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Turdidae
Genus: Turdus
Subspecies: T. p. hebridensis, T. p. clarkei, T. p. philomelos, T. p. nataliae  

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - Common resident (1,144,000 territories)

 - Birds seen at various sites including Rutland Water, Geddington and Heligan 

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto