The song thrush (Turdus philomelos) is a thrush species that breeds across the West Palearctic, with brown upperparts, black-spotted cream or buff underparts, and four recognized subspecies. It breeds in forests, gardens and parks, is partially migratory with many populations wintering in southern Europe, North Africa and the Middle East, and has also been introduced to New Zealand and Australia. It builds mud-lined cup nests and typically lays four or five dark-spotted blue eggs, and is known for using favorite stones as anvils to crack open snail shells; it is assessed as Least Concern despite serious declines in some European regions linked to changes in agriculture.
Facts
Scientific Name Conservation Status Body Size Band Activity Pattern Classification
System (Realm) Relationship to PeopleInvasive or Introduced Species 1 Living or Extinct Comparison
CITES Appendix Connections
Child Taxon Of
Turdus, Taxa Source Song thrush (Wikidata)
In the Other Atlases
Found In
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Sources
1. Wikipedia: Song thrush
diet-classification (MediaWiki batch-API article extract states it plainly)
It is omnivorous and has the habit of using a favourite stone as an "anvil" on which to break open the shells of snails.
Introduction
The song thrush breeds in forests, gardens and parks. It is partially migratory, with many birds wintering in southern Europe, North Africa and the Middle East.
View the Source2. GBIF Species API
3. Song thrush (Wikidata)
Wikidata- Wikidata Q26349 (P225 taxon name)
Statements section, conservation status (P141)
IUCN Red List conservation status (Wikidata property P141): least concern.
- Child Taxon Of: Turdus, Wikidata P171 (parent taxon) claim, rank=normal, target=Q115661 (Turdus)
View the Source 4. UNEP-WCMC Species+ database (CITES Secretariat): Species+: Turdus philomelos
UNEP-WCMC Species+ database (CITES Secretariat)Species+ taxon_concepts, id 99559Quote, Species+ taxon_concepts, id 99559
"rank":"SPECIES","name_status":"A","updated_at":"2026-05-06T11:22:56.043Z","active":true,"cites_listing":"III"
5. Song thrush (Wikipedia)
IntroductionQuote, Introduction
While it is not globally threatened, serious population declines have been observed in some European regions, potentially due to changes in farming practices. The song thrush builds a neat, mud-lined cup nest in a bush or tree and lays four to five dark-spotted blue eggs. It is omnivorous and has the habit of using a favourite stone as an "anvil" on which to break open the shells of snails.
6. Ecological Society of America, Ecological Archives E095-178 (Wilman et al. 2014): EltonTraits 1.0 bird functional traits (BirdFuncDat)
Ecological Society of America, Ecological Archives E095-178 (Wilman et al. 2014)Row: turdus philomelos
8965 Passeriformes Passeriformes Turdidae Thrushes 178 BL3 Turdus philomelos Song Thrush 40 0 0 0 0 0 30 0 30 0 Omnivore Ref_10 A Carolina 0 0 100 0 0 0 0 0 Ref_10 1 Jessica 0 67.74 Dunning08 1
BirdFuncDat.txt row Turdus philomelos, Nocturnal column
Turdus philomelos Song Thrush 40 0 0 0 0 0 30 0 30 0 Omnivore Ref_10 A Carolina 0 0 100 0 0 0 0 0 Ref_10 1 Jessica 0
View the Source 7. Human Ageing Genomic Resources, University of Liverpool: AnAge entry for Turdus philomelos
Human Ageing Genomic Resources, University of LiverpoolLifespan, ageing, and relevant traitsQuote, Lifespan, ageing, and relevant traits
Maximum longevity 17.7 years (wild)
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