Song Thrush

Irish Name: Smólach ceoil
Scientific name: Turdus philomelos
Bird Family: Thrushes
green
Conservation status

Status

Resident. Additional birds arrive from Continent in winter. One of Ireland's top 20 most widespread garden birds.

Identification

The Thrush most familiar to people. Roughly the size of a Blackbird, plain brown upperparts and buffish white underside, with prominent arrow-shaped black spots in lines down the breast and flanks. Legs pale pinkish-grey. Bounds along ground in search of worms. Males sit on high perch delivering song, which is loud and far-carrying. Usually occurs in ones and twos - never in flocks.

Voice

A close rival songster to the Blackbird, from which it mainly differs in its repetition of each phrase three or four times. Typical phrases include "cherry dew, cherry dew, cherry dew" and "knee-deep, knee-deep…." . Loud, fluty and far-carrying. Distress call is an agitated loud rattle or a quiet "seep" and contatct note a short "swick" , often given in flight.

Diet

Insects and other invertebrates, especially earthworms, with snails being a particular favourite. Song Thrushes will smash snail shells against stones, called "thrush anvils", to break them open, a method that very few other Irish birds ever use. Also berries and other fruit, including apples.

Breeding

Breeds throughout Ireland - mainly in hedgerows and gardens. Nest in trees, bushes, ivy, brambles and sometimes conifers.

Wintering

Widespread.

Blog posts about this bird

News

Tune In to Nature at a BirdWatch Ireland event this International Dawn Chorus Day

The soaring demand for concert tickets coupled with their sky-high prices may have left many music fans in Ireland disappointed this year but did you know that there are free, nationwide concerts taking place throughout April and May? All you need to do is step outside! One of nature’s most spectacular phenomena, the dawn chorus is a symphony of birdsong that can be heard in the early hours of a spring morning. While this natural wonder kicks off at the beginning of the breeding season, it rises to a crescendo in April and May when our resident birds are joined by summer migrants. The dawn chorus may sound soothing and inviting to us humans, but these feathered vocalists have different intentions. For them, the purpose of singing is to defend a territory and attract a mate. What sounds like a beautiful song to you is actually a male bird telling others to back off, while in turn, attempting to woo female birds in the vicinity. As singing can reveal a bird’s location to potential predators, a bird will always wait until there is sufficient daylight to see danger coming before starting their tune. For this reason, the birds with the biggest eyes such as Blackbird, Song Thrush and Robin will begin to sing earlier in the morning than other species. As the morning grows brighter, more species will join, leading to the symphony of song we know as the dawn chorus. One of the best things about the dawn chorus is that it can be enjoyed by anyone, anywhere. All you need is access to an outdoor space where birds are present and, if you’re not used to rising early, a decent alarm clock.

robin-on-the-edge-of-a-bush-with-insect-prey-in-beak

Robin. Photo: Michael Finn.

RTÉ Radio One’s live Dawn Chorus programme

If you don’t have access to an outdoor space or, if you prefer to enjoy the music from the comfort of your bed, you can still experience the magic of dawn chorus. On International Dawn Chorus Day this Sunday, May 5th, Ireland's airwaves will come alive with birdsong as the annual RTÉ Radio One live Dawn Chorus programme makes a return. This year, the Mooney Goes Wild team will once again be bringing listeners across Ireland and, thanks to RTÉ’s online presence, the world, a celebration of Irish birdsong from midnight through to 7:00 a.m. on RTÉ Radio One, in a simulcast with RTÉ Lyric fm and BBC Radio Wales. Derek Mooney will record live from the RTE studios in Dublin, while Niall Hatch and Jim Wilson will be based at BirdWatch Ireland’s Cuskinny Marsh Nature Reserve in Cobh, Co. Cork. From there, they will give listeners an insight into the fascinating dawn chorus, all while the birdsong builds in real time.  Elsewhere across the country, Richard Collins, Éanna Ní Lamhna, Eric Dempsey and Terry Flanagan will bring us the birdsong live from their localities. The RTE Dawn Chorus programme is winner of both the National PPI Radio Award for Innovation and the coveted International Rose d’Or award.

Great Tit. Photo: BirdWatch Ireland.

BirdWatch Ireland Dawn Chorus Events

While the dawn chorus is a wonderful thing to witness alone, sharing it with others is also a very special experience. The BirdWatch Ireland Branch network will be running a number of free dawn chorus events over the coming weeks. See our list below to find an event near you! Cavan The Cavan Branch of BirdWatch Ireland will hold a Dawn Chorus Walk at Turbet Island, Belturbet on Sunday, May 5th.  Meet at Turbet Island Car Park (entrance opposite Spar) at 4.30 a.m. Wear warm clothes, bring a snack and leave the dog at home please. Tea and biscuits to follow after the walk. Clare The BirdWatch Ireland Clare Branch Dawn Chorus Outing will take place on Sunday, May 12th to the Mullaghmore area in the Burren. We hope to hear Cuckoo, Whitethroat, Blackcap, Willow Warbler, Yellowhammer along with the more common songbirds. This is a unique habitat for such an event as the sun rises over the limestone rock. Meet at the Grotto, Corofin at 5 a.m. Cork BirdWatch Ireland’s Cork branch will hold a Dawn Chorus Event on Sunday, May 5th at 4.30 a.m. This will take place in the Glen River park on Ballyhooly Road, Cork City. The Eircode for the car park where we will meet is T23 A440. Cork (West) BirdWatch Ireland’s West Cork Branch will run a Dawn Chorus Event on Sunday, May 12th at Esk Mountain Estate, Glengarriff. It will kick off at 4.30 a.m. Visitors can park at Botanical B&B (Eircode P75 AW26; look out for our BirdWatch Ireland sign).  This is 4.5 km north of Glengarriff on the N7. The walk will mainly be on woodchip paths, stone steps and boardwalks so sturdy footwear is recommended, as is warm clothing and, most importantly, midge repellent! It will last an hour or so and there will be breakfast baps and refreshments available to purchase afterwards. Unfortunately, the event this year is not wheelchair friendly. For more information, contact event leader Jez Simms on 087 689 6964. Dublin South BirdWatch Ireland’s South Dublin Branch will hold their Dawn Chorus Event on Sunday, May 12th in Killiney Hill Park. Meet in the car park at the top of Burmah Road off Dalkey Avenue at 4 a.m. Warm clothing is recommended. Fingal BirdWatch Ireland’s Fingal Branch will run a Dawn Chorus Outing at Turvey Park on Sunday, May 12th. Meet at the car park at 7 a.m. Kilkenny The Kilkenny branch of BirdWatch Ireland is holding a Dawn Chorus Outing on Sunday, May 12th at Jenkinstown Wood, Co. Kilkenny. We will be meeting at 4.30 a.m. in the car park in Jenkinstown. Mayo The BirdWatch Ireland Mayo Branch will hold their Dawn Chorus Event on Saturday, May 4th at North Mayo Heritage Centre. Meet in the car park at 6.45 a.m., with event kicking off at 7 a.m. All welcome. We ask that all children are accompanied by an adult. Warm clothing is recommended. This event may be cancelled due to bad weather. Notice will be provided via WhatsApp and, if feasible, via email and Facebook. Meath This year, the annual Dawn Chorus Event of the BirdWatch Ireland Meath Branch will take place in Balrath Woods on Monday, May 6th at 5 a.m. Join us as we observe various bird species during the early morning hours. After the walk, there will be music and drinks available. All welcome. To get an idea of numbers on the day please register here: https://www.birdwatchirelandmeath.com/event-details-registration/dawn-chorus-2024-balrath-woods. See directions here: https://maps.app.goo.gl/yKKFSQxsHddTXDsA9. Sligo The BirdWatch Ireland Sligo Branch Dawn Chorus Walk will take place on Sunday, May 12th at Union Wood. It will be led by Trevor Hunter. Meet at Ballisodare United FC car park, Ballisodare, Co. Sligo at 5.00 a.m. Tipperary The BirdWatch Ireland Tipperary Branch will run a Dawn Chorus Event at Lough Derryville, Littleton, Co. Tipperary on Sunday, May 5th. Meet at the car park at 5 a.m. View location here: https://maps.app.goo.gl/Xj7pvK4H1x71URae6 Westmeath Join the BirdWatch Ireland Westmeath Branch for their annual Dawn Chorus Event on Sunday, May 5th. Enjoy a guided walk to explore the world of bird song at Belevedere House, Gardens and Park. Free admission. Event will take place from 5 a.m. until 7 a.m. Wicklow
Join the BirdWatch Ireland Wicklow Branch for their Dawn Chorus Event on Sunday, May 12th at 5 a.m. at Avondale Forest Park, Rathdrum, Co. Wicklow.
This Dawn Chorus walk will follow the 3 k.m. long Cairn Trail. We expect to be back in the carpark between 06:30 and 07:00. Thanks to Coillte and Beyond the Trees Avondale for facilitating (and waiving the car park fee for our early morning start!).
 
Cape Clear Bird Observatory

Spread your wings with a stay at Cape Clear Bird Observatory in 2024

Think of an island of just under 6km² in size and you would be forgiven for believing that your options for things to see and do are limited. Yet, on making the crossing from Baltimore to Cape Clear Island in County Cork, you will pass through a portal to endless natural wonders. Take it from Steve Wing. 25 years since first moving to the island to take up the reins as Cape Clear Bird Observatory’s Wildlife Officer, he is still making discoveries. “There are all sorts of things to discover here. It is a great place to gain enjoyment and knowledge about any aspect of nature,” he said. “When it comes to the natural world, the learning is endless. If you take up birdwatching, you will by default start asking more questions. ‘What’s that moth or butterfly? ‘What’s the tree they’re feeding in?’ You want to follow on. The more you learn about one thing, the more you want to learn about another. We don’t just do birding here; we do all sorts of things. I’m still learning about moth identification, for example. That’s as much a lesson for me as anyone else.”  

Steve Wing

As the home of the Republic of Ireland’s only bird observatory and one of the best places in Europe to observe migratory seabirds and rarities, Cape Clear is a magnet for birdwatchers all around Ireland, and beyond. But what is it about this island that makes it such a haven for bird life? “It’s location, location, location basically,” Steve responded. Indeed, Cape Clear's remote island location on the southwestern coast and mild climate make it a hot spot for an abundance of species. Many of those who visit Cape Clear to birdwatch today are following in the footsteps of the “pioneers” who founded the Observatory, as Steve explained. On a visit to Cape Clear in 1959, a group of young birdwatchers from England discovered many rarities and noted the potential Cape Clear Island offered for observing bird migration. Owing to their enthusiasm and a subsequent anonymous donation, the wheels were set in motion for the establishment of the Bird Observatory we know today. In 2000, Cape Clear Bird Observatory came under the ownership of BirdWatch Ireland, just two years after Steve took up his post. You can read more about the history of Cape Clear here. Steve Wing Cape Clear Wildlife Officer in doorway of CCBO

Steve Wing Cape Clear Wildlife Officer in doorway of CCBO. Photo: Brian Caffrey

Steve’s work at Cape Clear varies, depending on the time of year. Between April and September, he is kept busy running his extremely popular “Wildlife Weekends” – short and interactive courses suitable for the beginner birder right up to the seasoned twitcher. “When I am doing the courses, I am 100 percent with the people from the minute I wake up to the moment I go to bed. Whatever I am doing, they will get a chance to do. I take them for walks, do some ringing with them and tell them more about birds and Cape Clear in general. You're not sitting in a classroom, you're walking and talking and learning all the time,” he explained. “Participants will learn how to identify birds by looking at things like bill shape, the size of the bird, the colour, what they’re feeding on and their location. They will learn some basic birdwatching knowledge and a little bit of fieldcraft, and, of course, get plenty of enjoyment. There is the social side to the weekend, too. Every evening, we go to the pub and discuss what has happened during the day. If people leave here happy, have had a good time and want to come back, it’s a success in my eyes.” In addition to Steve’s Wildlife Weekends, Cape Clear also plays host to the week-long “Seabirds to Songbirds” courses led by Dick Coombes. Through these courses, which will take place on two dates in 2024, participants will gain an insight into the world of migration and the joys of sea-watching.

Cory's Shearwater. Photo: Artie Kopelman

When the guests have packed their bags and set sail for the mainland, Steve returns to his work on the island. There’s no such thing as a typical day, however, as his activities tend to shift with the changing weather and seasons. In late summer and early autumn, he might sit on the cliffs and monitor the seabirds – an activity known as seawatching. If the weather is calm and there are birds around, he might open the nets to do some ringing. To date, approximately 23,000 individual birds have been ringed on Cape Clear, Steve said, adding that it is a job he feels extremely lucky to carry out. “It is a total privilege to be able to hold on to a bird and show people the topography of it, how the feathers work and why the bill shape liked that. It is a lot easier to see close up. To see the look of awe on kids’ faces when they see a Robin or Blue Tit is fantastic. They're amazed,” he said. “Ringing itself is wonderful always but it’s always nice to catch something that’s rare, like a Golden Oriole, for example. Anything you catch that you're not expecting to is a bonus.” Information gathered from ringing and monitoring work has taught us a lot about how bird populations are faring on the island. For example, as Steve explained, Herring Gull numbers on the island have declined dramatically in recent years, likely due to a combination of factors including overfishing. Meanwhile, Fulmar numbers have risen as many have taken over former Herring Gull breeding sites. “Song Thrushes seem to be doing incredibly well around here, whereas around most of the rest of Europe they are declining. Maybe it is the fact there aren’t so many pesticides being used here. We don’t know for sure,” continued Steve. “We seem to be getting more Mediterranean seabirds also. Last year, I had a record year for Cory Shearwaters for the whole south coast of Ireland. We had tens of thousands coming through.” Ringing also gives us information about migration routes. We now know that some of the birds recorded on Cape Clear have travelled a tremendous distance to be there. sedge-warbler-perched-on-willow

Sedge Warbler. Photo: Clive Timmons.

“I caught three adult Sedge Warblers in 2017 and up until three years ago, I was still catching two of the three when they returned to Cape after wintering in Gambia and Senegal. We did a very quick rough estimate on Google Maps and realised that these birds had pretty much done a circumnavigation of the planet in their lifetimes. It's an amazing feat for these tiny birds the size of Robins.” While Steve’s Wildlife Weekends are now fully booked for 2024 and only a limited number of places remain on the “Seabirds to Songbirds” courses, it is still possible to visit Cape Clear and experience the natural wonders that it holds. From April 8th, members of the public can take the boat from Baltimore and stay in the Bird Observatory’s self-catering style accommodation in shared dorms. For more information and to book, visit the BirdWatch Ireland website. Regardless of whether you visit Cape Clear for a course or on a self-guided trip, alone or with friends, you are sure to depart with additional knowledge and a renewed appreciation for Ireland’s bird life. “Capers say Ireland is the island off Cape and that this is the best place in Ireland to be. If you visit, you will learn a lot about the birds, you will learn more about the general art of birdwatching and hopefully, you will get to appreciate what a beautiful place Cape is. Come with an open mind. You are sure to learn something.” Find our more about and book a Cape Clear course in 2024.

Similar Species

Mistle Thrush

Irish Name:
Smólach mór
Scientific name:
Turdus viscivorus
Bird Family:
Thrushes

Redwing

Irish Name:
Deargán sneachta
Scientific name:
Turdus iliacus
Bird Family:
Thrushes

Fieldfare

Irish Name:
Sacán
Scientific name:
Turdus pilaris
Bird Family:
Thrushes