Song thrush Turdus philomelos

Familiar brown bird with speckled front, known for its habit of smashing snail shells

Habitat: gardens, woods, heaths, fields, hedges

Widespread and still common resident, but much less common than it used to be

Brown back, white neatly spotted with black below, with yellow wash on breast; 22–24 cm

Best known for its habit of smashing snail shells on a convenient 'anvil'; perches openly, hops and walks about

Eats worms, insects, seeds and berries, and snails when other food is scarce

Nest is a neat cup in a tree or bush; 2 or 3 broods March to June

Between 4 and 6 pale blue eggs, speckled black, incubated by the female; fledging in 12–16 days