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Song thrush (Turdus philomelos)

[Page Reviewed December 2006]

Description

This is a medium-sized bird (22 - 24 cm) with brown upper parts, buffy white underparts, and heavily spotted breast and flanks. The abdomen is white and the bill black. Females tend to be more heavily spotted on their underparts.

Food

This species consumes worms, snails, slugs, grubs, caterpillars, beetles and other insects, berries and fruits.

Call, behaviour

The bird has a loud clear song, heard for the greater part of the year. Chief call is a short soft 'sipp', also a thin, 'seep' and a 'cheek' alarm note. This species has a direct flight pattern, it hops or runs along the ground and frequently stands with its head on one side, listening for worms. It is usually found in pairs or small groups and can be sedentary or migratory.

Habitat

Song Thrushes are found on forest edges and clearings, woodland, open moorland, coastal acacia, parks and gardens.

Natural Distribution

This is a bird of Eurasia. It is found in the British Isles, Europe except the southern coastal fringe and northern Scandinavia, and east to south-western, central and central-western Asia. In winter it is found south to the Canary Islands, Arabia, Iran and south-western Asia.

Introduced Distribution

The Song Thrush has been introduced successfully to Australia (Melbourne and suburbs) and New Zealand. It has also colonised many nearby islands, including Lord Howe Island and Norfolk Island.

It has probably been introduced unsuccessfully to South Africa St. Helena and the USA.

It has not been introduced into Western Australia so far.

Damage Caused

This species attacks strawberries, raspberries, gooseberries and blackcurrents in Great Britain. In Holland it damages soft fruits, apples and pears and in Germany grapes and other fruit. In New Zealand this species appears to be one of the more important pests in orchards causing damage to fruit.

References

Long, J.L. (1981). Introduced Birds of the World. Reed Books, Sydney. View an image: Song Thrush