Nightingale Bird Information
Nightingales are members of the thrush family, and they are known for their sweet, melodic song. It is a common bird in Europe and Asia, and it will travel long distances to get to warm weather for the winter. The name nightingale has a history that goes back more than 1,000 years, and its nocturnal song has been noted throughout that time.
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Features
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The nightingale is a small bird that is typically between 5 and 6 inches in height and weighs less than 1 oz. It has plain brown feathers with a red-sided tail. It has fairly long legs when compared to the rest of its body.
Time Frame
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The nightingale is most noticeable at night due to the fact that there are very few other birds singing. Unpaired males will sing loudly at night to attract a mate. Males will also sing at or before dawn to defend their territory. The nightingale lives for about two years.
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History
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The word “nightingale” itself comes from an Anglo-Saxon word meaning night songstress. According to the A-Z Animals website, the Anglo-Saxon word, nihtingale, goes back more than 1,000 years. At the time, it was believed that the females were the ones who sang, though in reality, female nightingales do not produce the varied sounds that the species is known for.
Habitat
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Nightingales will feed on a wide combination of fruits, seeds, insects and nuts, and because of this, they tend to live in thick forests and woodlands that will provide them with the diet that they need. In their natural habitat, they are common prey for rats, cats, birds of prey and foxes. They are migratory birds that will journey as far as Africa in the winter.
Finding the Nightingale
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According to the Bird On! website, nightingales can best be found by tracking them at night. Listen for the males' song and find out where it is coming from. They are less vocal during the day, which can make them difficult to spot. Do not play bird calls to bring them out of hiding, as this will cause the birds to think that there is a new nightingale present and cause distress.
Sounds
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The nightingale's has a versatile contralto voice that can reproduce a number of whistles, trills and gurgles. When alarmed, it produces a deep, frog-like croak.
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References
- Photo Credit bird image by onciu valeriu from Fotolia.com
