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Common Nightingale
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Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Muscicapidae
Genus: Luscinia
Species: Luscinia megarhynchos

The Common Nightingale (Luscinia megarhynchos) is a species of migratory Old World flycatcher found in Afro-Eurasia. It is noteworthy for its song the male sings in springtime to attract a mate.

Subspecies[]

There are 3 recognized subspecies of the Common Nightingale.

  • Western Nightingale (L. m. megarhynchos) - Western Europe, North Africa and Asia Minor, wintering in tropical Africa
  • Caucasian Nightingale (L. m. africana) - The Caucasus and eastern Turkey to southwestern Iran and Iraq, wintering in East Africa
  • Eastern Nightingale (L. m. golzii) - The Aral Sea to Mongolia, wintering in coastal East Africa

Appearance[]

With a length of 15 to 16.5 cm and mass of 18-23 g, the Common Nightingale is an Old World flycatcher slightly bigger than the European Robin. The upperparts are brown with the tail having a reddish and rusty tone, while the underparts are whitish with the chest and the abdomen having a lighter shade. The wings are relatively short, which facilitates rapid movement in tightness. The beak is black with a yellow base, while the legs are pale creamy pink. The subspecies L. m. golzii and L. m. africana have paler underparts and a stronger face pattern, which also includes a pale supercilium, than the nominate subspecies. Both sexes are identical in external appearance. The related Thrush Nightingale differs from this species by its less rufous plumage and cloudier appearance on the underparts.

Voice[]

The name "Nightingale" was given to the bird for the fact that it sings so beautifully during the day and night. This name has been used for over 1000 years. It literally means "night-songstress". Their song, known to be one of the most distinctive of all European birds, is loud, with an impressive range of whistles, trills and gurgles. Only unpaired males sing regularly at night, and nocturnal song is likely to serve attracting a mate. Singing at dawn, during the hour before sunrise, is assumed to be important in defense of the bird's territory.

The quality of melodies in their songs is not the same for all individuals of this species; some sing more fully even with proper note patterns, while others sing with a less varied trill. The ability to perform mating songs is not an innate feature. Young birds learn them from adults, so their performance depends on how the older generation sings.

Behavior[]

This careful songbird has a secretive lifestyle, so it is rarely seen and normally detected by its song. Most of the time, it stays on the ground or among shrubs in the low undergrowth layer. When resting, the Nightingale sits on a branch, lowers its wings, and opens its tail in a fan-like shape. It possesses a tendency to hide in thick bushes and tall grasses to stay safe from predators.

Feeding[]

The Common Nightingale catches insects and other invertebrates that are taken from the ground or from leaves and branches. It prefers beetles and ants, which are grabbed by its bill from litter or fallen foliage. While foraging, it shifts in positions with long strokes, raking the forest litter by its bill or legs. After catching the prey, the bird strikes it several times on the ground until it stops moving. The bird may also catch insects in flight. In summer, the Nightingale also enjoys taking ripe fruits and berries. In autumn, it feeds intensively to accumulate a sufficient supply of fat for a long and difficult flight to it's wintering grounds.

Nesting[]

The Common Nightingale arrives at nesting sites in mid-April, with males appearing earlier than females. Occupying a certain area, neighboring individuals are notified of their appearance by their loud songs. Turning up to be in their breeding areas away from their wintering quarters, the male usually prefers the old place of residence and sings to alert the other individuals near its territory that the place is occupied. Two weeks later, the females appear, and young males begin to sing out loud, competing in the skill of their songs.

The Common Nightingale is a monogamous bird, and usually, last year's partners find each other and recreate pairs. The male begins to turn while sitting on a branch, and loudly flaps his wings and wags his tail until the chosen female implies sense of acceptance for mating. After mating, the female builds a nest in a dense tangle of shrubs above the ground or even on a dry leaf on the ground. The cup-shaped nest is lined with dry grass and wool. From mid-May, the female lays 4-6 matte, olive-green or brown eggs that will be incubated for about 2 weeks. The partner stays close at this time and only occasionally quietly invites her to go in search of food. Two weeks later, the blind, altricial chicks are born in need of constant maternal care. At this time, the male obtains food for the whole family, tirelessly carries beetles, spiders and caterpillars to the nest, and passes them to the female, who divides the carried prey between the children. After 5 days, the chicks mature, and the female joins in obtaining food, leaving the babies unattended for a short time. After 11-12 days, the chicks leave the nest and learn to fly, but instantly hide in the bushes and surrounding undergrowth. Once the chicks learn to fly, parental care is unneeded for them.

Distribution and Habitat[]

The Common Nightingale breeds in Central, Western and Southern Europe along with Asia Minor, Middle East, and Central Asia. It departs to winter in northern Sub-Saharan Africa. Within the breeding range, this songbird mainly settles in deciduous and mixed forests, old parks, gardens and cemeteries. A prerequisite for choosing a place of residence is the presence near a lake, or a forest stream, pond or river. The Common Nightingale lives most preferably on the plains and usually does not settle above 400 m above sea level.

This common passerine bird travels long distances, arriving to breed in the second half of April or early May and departing in August-September. It flies west at night and spends the winter in local rainforests of where the bird is present in winter. Singing males during migration can then be found in environments less typical of their usual habitat preferences. It returns to Europe via the Pyrenees Peninsula, the region where these birds are hunted.

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