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'''Alternative names: Rufous Nightingale; Western Nightingale''' | '''Alternative names: Rufous Nightingale; Western Nightingale''' | ||
[[Image:Common_Nightingale.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by {{user|Nigelblake|Nigel Blake}} <br> Location...Little Paxton]] | [[Image:Common_Nightingale.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by {{user|Nigelblake|Nigel Blake}} <br> Location...Little Paxton]] | ||
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==Identification== | ==Identification== | ||
| − | A grey-brown chat (16 - 17cm) | + | A grey-brown chat (16 - 17cm) |
* Warm brown above | * Warm brown above | ||
* Rusty-brown tail and rump | * Rusty-brown tail and rump | ||
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* Prominent large black eye with pale narrow eyering | * Prominent large black eye with pale narrow eyering | ||
* Indistinctive grey supercilium | * Indistinctive grey supercilium | ||
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| + | ====Similar Species==== | ||
| + | The warm colour and the rusty-red tail are good fieldmarks to distinguish from the similar [[Thrush Nightingale]]<sup>[[#References|3]]</sup>. However both species are easily told apart by song. | ||
==Distribution== | ==Distribution== | ||
Breeds in southern [[England]] and from [[Iberia]] and [[France]] east to central [[Poland]], [[Hungary]], the [[Balkans]] and [[Greece]], also in the [[Ukraine]], [[Caucasus]] and northern [[Turkey]], and parts of the [[Middle East]]. Breeds on most larger Mediterranean islands and the coastal strip of North-West [[Africa]]. First breeding for [[Malta]] was in 1995. <br /> | Breeds in southern [[England]] and from [[Iberia]] and [[France]] east to central [[Poland]], [[Hungary]], the [[Balkans]] and [[Greece]], also in the [[Ukraine]], [[Caucasus]] and northern [[Turkey]], and parts of the [[Middle East]]. Breeds on most larger Mediterranean islands and the coastal strip of North-West [[Africa]]. First breeding for [[Malta]] was in 1995. <br /> | ||
Revision as of 17:35, 21 February 2009
Alternative names: Rufous Nightingale; Western Nightingale
- Luscinia megarhynchos
Identification
A grey-brown chat (16 - 17cm)
- Warm brown above
- Rusty-brown tail and rump
- Whitish below with sandy-buff breast and flanks
- Prominent large black eye with pale narrow eyering
- Indistinctive grey supercilium
Similar Species
The warm colour and the rusty-red tail are good fieldmarks to distinguish from the similar Thrush Nightingale3. However both species are easily told apart by song.
Distribution
Breeds in southern England and from Iberia and France east to central Poland, Hungary, the Balkans and Greece, also in the Ukraine, Caucasus and northern Turkey, and parts of the Middle East. Breeds on most larger Mediterranean islands and the coastal strip of North-West Africa. First breeding for Malta was in 1995.
The breeding range extends outside Europe into Iran, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, China and Afghanistan2.
Migratory, leaving breeding areas in late July-early October and passing through the southern half of the Region to winter in sub-Saharan Africa and returning from early April-mid May.
Vagrant to Iceland and Ireland, Norway, Sweden, Finland and Nepal.
Taxonomy
Clements1 accepts three subspecies:
- L. m. megarhynchos found in NW Africa, Europe to C Turkey and the eastern Mediterranean
- L. m. africana found in the Caucasus, E Turkey and to Iran
- L. m. hafizi from E Iran to Kazakhstan, Mongolia, China and Afghanistan
This races differ only slightly in colour and size. They are not always separable.
Like all species of the genus Luscinia it was formerly placed in the thrush Familiy Turdidae.
Habitat
The habitat is varying through the range of this species. In W and N Europe it prefers open woodland with thickets, usually near water. In S Europe also dry maquis, edges of broadleaf forest without water or pinewoods with rich undergrowth are taken.2
Behaviour
The diet includes insects.
Vocalisation
The male sings at night.
<flashmp3>Luscinia megarhynchos (song).mp3</flashmp3>
Listen in an external program
References
- Clements, JF. 2008. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2008. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019. Spreadsheet available at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist.
- Del Hoyo, J, A Elliot, and D Christie, eds. 2005. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 10: Cuckoo-Shrikes to Thrushes. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8487334726
- Jonsson, L. 1992. Birds of Europe. London: Christopher Helm. ISBN 0-7136-5238-1
External Links
