Song Thrush Turdus philomelos

The Song Thrush is slightly smaller than the closely related and more common Blackbird. They have medium brown upper parts, while the underside is cream and boldly spotted with brown-black. Song Thrushes can exist almost anywhere with trees or bushes and open grassland. They have adapted well to many of the changes in the environment created by humans. They make good use of small woodlands, parklands, hedgerows, railway embankments, roadsides, cemeteries, gardens and built-up areas.

Song Thrushes spend much of their time on the ground, especially short grass or bare soil, looking for food. They eat a wide variety of invertebrate and plant food, making use of whatever is seasonally abundant, although Earthworms are a key food. Snails become particularly important in late summer, when the dry, hard ground makes worms inaccessible. The birds beat Snails against a hard surface such as a stone (the 'anvil') until the shell breaks. This habit is unique to Song Thrushes. During the autumn and winter, fruit and berries are an important part of the diet.

Song Thrushes have a very clear and musical song with great variety and mimicry, most phrases being repeated several times. The song is often delivered from a conspicuous perch. Breeding territories are established in the late winter or early spring. The breeding season lasts from March to August. The mud-lined cupped nest is built low down in any suitable cover, including trees and shrubs, among creepers on walls, ledges, and even on the ground amongst thick vegetation. They lay between three to five pale-blue eggs with black spots.

Current Status

This is a common and widespread bird that is declining throughout the UK. Most Song Thrushes in the British Isles are resident and remain in the same area throughout the year. Others breed in the UK but winter further south in Europe. Large numbers of Continental breeders, especially Dutch birds, overwinter in the UK. The Song Thrush suffered an overall decline of 59% between 1970 and 1998. It is estimated that numbers have reduced by 73% on farmland and 49% in woodland habitats. The most recent population estimate (1988-91) is 1.1 million. The Song Thrush appears on the UK Biodiversity Steering Group 'Short List of Globally Threatened/Declining Species'. It is also listed on the RSPB Red List of 'Birds of Conservation Concern'.

Despite the national decline suffered by Song Thrushes in the past 30 years, they are still fairly common within Hull. Up to five pairs were breeding throughout the 1990's between North Bransholme and Holderness Drain and a pair or two were nesting along Snuff Mill Lane and Wood Lane, between Cottingham and Hull in 1996. Recently Song Thrushes have been observed breeding in the Trinity burial ground, right in the centre of the City. Three or four males were recorded singing along the old Hull to Withernsea railway line between Hedon Road Cemetery and the City centre in 1999 and 2000. Several pairs are known to breed in the Sutton Fields area. Most of the larger gardens, parks and cemeteries will have a pair or two of Song Thrushes. However, many areas have reported serious declines over the past 10 years. Song Thrushes were once common in the Avenues area of Hull but were less frequent by 1996. Song Thrushes are most common in the Hull area as passage migrants in autumn, when substantial numbers fly from Scandinavia with Redwings, Fieldfares and Blackbirds.

Current Factors Affecting Song Thrushes

Intensive farming methods affect food supply and the availability of nest sites for the Song Thrush. Loss of hedgerows and wet ditches has removed feeding and nesting sites, while increased land drainage, agricultural operations and pesticide usage are all likely to have reduced the numbers of earthworms and other invertebrate prey available to this bird. The switch from spring to autumn sowing of cereals may also have adversely affected the Song Thrush.

Severe winter weather and dry soil conditions may affect food supply.

Song Thrushes are caught and eaten by other birds such as Sparrowhawks and in urban areas many are victims of cats.

Gardens and allotments are important habitats for the Song Thrush. The use of chemicals, such as slug pellets, makes the slugs and snails they eat toxic.

Current Action

Legal Status

The Song Thrush is protected under the EC Birds Directive. Song Thrushes and their nests are also fully protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981). It is an offence intentionally to kill, injure or take any wild bird. It is also an offence intentionally to take, damage or destroy the eggs, young or nest of a Song Thrush while it is being built or in use. It is therefore essential to ensure that nests are not destroyed by inappropriate hedge trimming or tree felling during the breeding season.

Management, Research and Guidance

The UK Biodiversity Steering Group has prepared a national Song Thrush Species Action Plan. The plan sought to halt the decline in Song Thrush numbers by the year 2000 and highlights the fact that the recovery of the species is largely dependent on research identifying appropriate remedial measures.

Little action was taken for the Song Thrush until census work by the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) highlighted its decline. Current work now includes surveys, research on the bird's ecology and investigation of the causes of the decline.

Within Hull, several individuals and groups keep records of sightings but there is currently no action for the Song Thrush.

Action Plan Aims

1. To determine the numbers and distribution of Song Thrush in Hull.
2. To monitor the numbers and distribution of Song Thrush.
3. To encourage householders, schools and other landowners to provide suitable habitat.
4. To encourage supplementary feeding in winter and spring.
5. To improve the understorey of woodlands.
6. To increase the amount of hedgerow in Hull.
7. To enhance existing hedgerows.
8. To improve hedgerow management.
9. To ensure that scrub is well-represented across Hull and within a range of habitats.
10. To promote the use of non-toxic methods of slug deterrence in gardens.

What We Are Going to Do

What We Can All Do

• Song Thrushes spend time on the ground looking for food so are often caught and killed by cats. By putting a bell on your cat you can help alert birds to their presence.
  
  
• Plant trees and shrubs, they will provide cover and nesting habitat. Species with fruit or berries also provide a good source of food.
  
  
• Help determine the distribution of Song Thrushes in Hull by telling the Biodiversity Partnership where you have seen the bird.
  
  
• Avoid use of chemicals such as slug pellets as they can be toxic to Song Thrushes and other animals which eat slugs.
   

Links With Other Action Plans

The management of Trees, Scrub and Hedgerows, Gardens and Allotments and Parks, Golf Courses and Cemeteries will be important for the Song Thrush.

References

Broughton, R.K. (2002) The Birds of the Hull Area. Kingston Press, Hull.

Gregory, R.D., Nobel, D.G., Cranswick, P.A. Rehfisch, M.M., Baillie, S.R. (2001) The State of the UK's Birds. RSPB, BTO, WWT, Sandy.

RSPB (1996) Birds of Conservation Concern in the United Kingdom, Channel Islands and Isle of Man. RSPB, Sandy.

RSPB (2000) Song Thrush. RSPB, Sandy.

RSPB (2000) The Loss of Farmland Birds. RSPB, Sandy.

RSPB (2001) Wild Birds and the Law. RSPB, Sandy.

RSPB, FWAG, The Game Conservancy Trust (2001) Farming for Birds: Song Thrush. RSPB, Sandy.