Belongs to: chats

Nightingale Luscinia megarhynchos

Birds of Conservation Concern Amber List


Best time to see: mid Apr to mid Aug

Key facts

Famous songster more often heard than seen, with a vibrant virtuoso song

Habitat: open woodland with dense low ground cover, such as coppiced woods

Uncommon summer visitor in marked decline

Recognition

Warm brown back, rust-red tail; 16–17 cm

Nearly always hidden deep in vegetation

Feeds on insects

Lifecycle

Nest is a cup well hidden close to ground, such as in a bramble patch

1 brood May to June

4–5 mottled reddish eggs

  • Main photo

Photo © David Harrison