Song Thrushs in Northern Ireland
When the Song Thrush (Turdus philomelos) is present in Northern Ireland, when it nests, and which native Northern Ireland plants supply the food it depends on.
- Status in Northern Ireland
- Resident all year
- Nesting season
- March–July
- Size
- 23 cm, 70–90 g
- Nest box
- Does not use enclosed boxes
- Delivery
- Perch Supply ships to the UK
When to expect song thrushs in Northern Ireland
The Song Thrush lives in Northern Ireland all year round. Rarely severe; winter thrushes and finches from Scandinavia and Iceland arrive from October.
Mild, wet and windy maritime climate with few temperature extremes.
Nesting in Northern Ireland
In Northern Ireland the Song Thrush usually nests March–July. Nest site: cup lined with a smooth mud-and-dung layer, in shrubs. Clutches are 3–5 eggs, incubated for 13–14 days; chicks fledge after 13–14 days, and pairs raise 2–3 per year.
- The Song Thrush does not use enclosed nest boxes — dense native shrubs and climbers give it nest sites.
- Avoid cutting hedges during the nesting season (roughly March to August) — in the UK, disturbing an active nest is an offence under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
Native Northern Ireland plants for song thrushs
Of the native plants we track for Northern Ireland, these 8 provide food the Song Thrush uses:
Haws feed thrushes all winter; spring blossom supports hundreds of insect species.
Orange-red berries are a magnet for Blackbirds, thrushes and Waxwings from August.
Evergreen roosting cover and winter berries on female plants.
Late-winter berries when little else is left, plus dense nesting cover.
Late-summer berries taken by Blackcaps and thrushes.
Thorny cover that protects nests; early blossom for insects.
Hips persist into winter for thrushes and finches.
Translucent red berries in autumn.
Feeding in the garden
Worms, insects and snails, which it smashes on an 'anvil' stone.
- Best foods: Mealworms, Soaked sultanas, Fruit.
- Feeders: Ground tray.
- Avoid slug pellets — Song Thrushes eat the snails they poison.
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked
Are song thrushs in Northern Ireland all year?
Yes — the Song Thrush is resident in Northern Ireland all year.
When do song thrushs nest in Northern Ireland?
Typically March–July. Clutches are 3–5 eggs, incubated for 13–14 days, with 2–3 per year.
Which native plants help song thrushs in Northern Ireland?
Hawthorn, Rowan, Holly, Ivy, Elder, Blackthorn, Dog rose, Guelder rose are native to Northern Ireland and provide food or cover the Song Thrush uses.
Song Thrushs in other countries
Other garden birds in Northern Ireland
Sources
- Song Thrush — RSPB bird guide
- Song Thrush — BTO BirdFacts
- Bird Atlas 2007–11 — British Trust for Ornithology
Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.