The Thrush Nightingale (Luscinia luscinia) is a small, dusky brown songbird, closely related to the Common Nightingale but with a duller, less reddish tail and a more mottled breast. It breeds in thick, damp deciduous forest, wet willow and alder thickets, and riverine scrub across eastern Europe and temperate Asia, wintering in sub-Saharan Africa.

What does a Thrush Nightingale sound like? The Thrush Nightingale’s song is rich and varied, made up of whistles, percussive notes, clicks and trills, and is often described as having a slightly mechanical quality. However, the song is generally less dynamic and slower when compared with that of the closely related Common Nightingale. Like its relative, it’s primarily the male that sings, often delivering his powerful, far-carrying song at night to attract a mate and defend territory. Other vocalizations of the Thrush Nightingale include high-pitched ‘teep’ calls, a dry rattle and a harsh alarm call.

Listen to some examples of Thrush Nightingale sounds below.