Song Thrush
Turdus philomelos
The Song Thrush is famous for its 'anvil'—a favorite stone used to smash open snail shells, a learned behavior that leaves behind piles of broken shells.
- Scientific name
- Turdus philomelos
- Taxonomy
- Animalia › Chordata › Aves › Passeriformes › Turdidae › Turdus
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- stable
- Biome
- forest
- Habitat
- Deciduous and coniferous woodlands, hedgerows, and suburban gardens with ample cover.
- Diet
- Invertebrates including snails and earthworms, supplemented by berries and fruit in autumn.
- Range
- Europe, North Africa, Western Asia, New Zealand, Australia
- Size
- 20-23 cm in length; wingspan of 33-36 cm; weight 50-100g.
- Lifespan
- 3-4 years on average, though individuals have reached over 10 years.
- Active
- diurnal
- Threats
- Changes in agricultural practices, loss of hedgerows, and secondary poisoning from molluscicides.
- Safe to approach?
- Harmless and shy. Maintain a respectful distance to avoid causing stress, especially during nesting season. If you find a fledgling on the ground, leave it be; the parents are likely nearby. Do not use slug pellets in your garden as these can poison thrushes that eat the snails.
The song thrush ( Turdus philomelos ) is a thrush that breeds across much of Eurasia. It has brown upperparts and black-spotted cream or buff underparts and has three recognised subspecies. Its distinctive song, which has repeated musical phrases, has frequently been referred to in poetry.
Photo: Sid Mosdell, CC-BY, via iNaturalist
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