Birds / Thrushes and chats

Song Thrush

Turdus philomelos

Also known as Throstle and Mavis

Common All year Gardens Woodland Farmland Towns

Test yourself

Recording: Patrik Åberg / xeno-canto

Sounds like

Loud, bold phrases, each repeated two to four times before moving on: 'did-he-do-it, did-he-do-it, judy, judy, judy'.

Remember it

It says everything twice, or three times.

When and where

Listening for the song thrush

Heard: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Jan to Jul
Time of day: Dawn, Day and Dusk
Where: Gardens, Woodland, Farmland, Towns
In Britain: All year
Family: Thrushes and chats

Side by side

Often confused with

Play them one after the other and listen for the difference.

Song Thrush

Turdus philomelos

JFMAMJJASOND

It says everything twice, or three times.

Blackbird

Turdus merula

JFMAMJJASOND

Unhurried and mellow, like someone whistling to themselves. Every phrase is different, with long pauses in between.

Nightingale

Luscinia megarhynchos

JFMAMJJASOND

A slow, swelling 'pioo-pioo-pioo' that builds like a sob is the giveaway.

Could you pick out a song thrush?

Hear a song, choose from four birds, and build your streak.

Play the quiz

Same habitat

Also in gardens

See all

Blue Tit

Cyanistes caeruleus

JFMAMJJASOND

Two or three thin, high notes followed by a fast, shimmering trill: 'tsee-tsee-tsuhuhuhu'.

Chaffinch

Fringilla coelebs

JFMAMJJASOND

A cheerful, accelerating run of notes that tumbles down and ends in a flourish, repeated over and over.

Coal Tit

Periparus ater

JFMAMJJASOND

A fast, high, two-note phrase repeated several times: 'pitchoo-pitchoo-pitchoo'.

Dunnock

Prunella modularis

JFMAMJJASOND

A hurried, flat, squeaky warble that stays on one level and stops abruptly, like a squeaky wheel turning.