Thrush nightingale

The Thrush Nightingale, also known as the Sprosser, is a small migratory bird that was once thought to belong to the thrush family but is now classified as an Old World flycatcher. These birds breed in Europe and the Palearctic region and spend their winters in Africa.

In terms of appearance, the Thrush Nightingale is about the same size as a European Robin. It has a plain greyish-brown upper body and a mix of white and greyish-brown on its underbody. One of its most distinctive features is its loud, flute-like song, which sets it apart from the common nightingale.

These birds typically breed in damp forests, constructing their nests on the ground. Their diet consists of earthworms, insects, and berries. During the summer, their range stretches from Eastern Europe to parts of Asia, reaching as far north as Denmark and as far south as the Crimea.

For breeding, Thrush Nightingales prefer dense undergrowth and shrubs near water sources. When winter comes, they migrate to dense patches of thorn bushes in Africa. Interestingly, they are known hosts to an intestinal parasite called Apororhynchus silesiacus.

In Europe, the population of Thrush Nightingales is estimated to be between 11 and 20 million individuals, while the global population ranges from 15 to 41 million. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has classified the species as of Least Concern, indicating that it is not currently at risk of extinction.