Quick field summary
A familiar UK thrush with bold dark spots on a warm brown breast and one of the richest, most repeated song phrases in spring. Often seen on lawns and in leaf litter, and famous for using a ‘stone’ to smash open snail shells.
How to identify Song thrush
Medium-sized thrush, smaller and neater than a Mistle thrush. Warm brown upperparts with creamy underparts covered in bold, arrowhead-shaped spots; pale face with a subtle buff wash and dark eye. Typically feeds by short runs and pauses on lawns, then flicks leaves to find invertebrates, and often perches high to sing with distinctive repeated phrases.
- Warm brown back with creamy underparts
- Bold dark arrowhead spots on breast and flanks
- Smaller and more compact than Mistle thrush
- Often seen smashing snails on a favoured stone (‘anvil’)
- Song of clear phrases repeated two or three times
Habitat, range and timing
Gardens with lawns and berry shrubs Parks, churchyards and cemeteries Woodland edges, hedgerows and scrub Farmland field margins and orchards Leafy suburban streets with mature trees
Widespread across the UK and Ireland. Many birds are resident, with numbers boosted in autumn and winter by migrants from northern and eastern Europe, especially in the south and east.
- South East England
- East Anglia
- South West England
- Scottish Lowlands
- Northern Ireland
Song, movement and nesting
Feeds by running, stopping and listening before probing for worms; also turns leaf litter with quick flicks. Notable for using a hard surface as a snail ‘anvil’. Song is rich and fluty with short phrases typically repeated two or three times, often delivered from an exposed perch in early spring and at dusk.
Nests from early spring, usually low to medium height in dense shrub, hedge or conifer, sometimes on ledges. Cup nest is built of grass and moss and lined with a distinctive smooth inner ‘plaster’ of mud and rotten wood. Typically 3–5 blue eggs with black spots; both parents feed the young, and two broods are common in a good season.
Photos and plumage details
Similar birds
Use shape, plumage and habitat together to separate close matches in the field.
Discover more British birds
Browse a few more field guides and keep building your knowledge of the birds around you.
Common questions
How can I tell a Song thrush from a Mistle thrush?
Song thrush is smaller with warmer brown tones and bold arrowhead-shaped spots; Mistle thrush is larger, greyer and more upright in stance.
Do Song thrushes migrate in the UK?
Many are resident, but the UK also gets winter migrants from northern and eastern Europe, especially in the south and east.
What does a Song thrush eat?
Mainly worms and invertebrates, plus snails (often smashed on an anvil stone) and berries, especially in autumn and winter.
Why does a Song thrush repeat its song phrases?
Repeating phrases is a typical feature of the species’ song and helps it carry well through woodland and gardens.
Where do Song thrushes nest?
Usually in dense shrubs, hedges or conifers, in a cup nest with a smooth mud-lined interior.