nightingale

Songbird belonging to the thrush family; it sings with remarkable beauty by night as well as during the day. About 16.5 cm/6.5 in long, it is dull brown with a reddish-brown rounded tail; the breast is dull greyish-white, tinting to brown. It migrates in summer to Europe and winters in Africa. It feeds on insects, small animals, and occasionally fruit. It has a huge musical repertoire, built from about 900 melodic elements. (Species Luscinia megarhyncos, family Muscicapidae.)

The female is slightly smaller than the male, but the plumage is very similar. The nest is often built on the ground, made of dry grass and leaves, and four to six olive-green eggs are laid in it. The male's song continues until the young are hatched.

The thrush nightingale (L. luscinia) of eastern Europe, is a louder but less sweet songster. Both species also sing in their winter ranges in Africa.