Song Thrushs in Norway
When the Song Thrush (Turdus philomelos) is present in Norway, when it nests, and which native Norway plants supply the food it depends on.
- Status in Norway
- Summer visitor
- Nesting season
- April–July
- Size
- 23 cm, 70–90 g
- Nest box
- Does not use enclosed boxes
When to expect song thrushs in Norway
The Song Thrush arrives in Norway in spring to breed and leaves again in autumn. Short summers with midnight sun in the north.
Mild maritime on the Gulf Stream coast, cold continental inland and Arctic in the north.
Nesting in Norway
In Norway the Song Thrush usually nests April–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 Norway plants for song thrushs
Of the native plants we track for Norway, 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 Norway all year?
No. The Song Thrush is a summer visitor to Norway, arriving to breed and leaving in autumn.
When do song thrushs nest in Norway?
Typically April–July. Clutches are 3–5 eggs, incubated for 13–14 days, with 2–3 per year.
Which native plants help song thrushs in Norway?
Hawthorn, Rowan, Holly, Ivy, Elder, Blackthorn, Dog rose, Guelder rose are native to Norway and provide food or cover the Song Thrush uses.
Song Thrushs in other countries
Other garden birds in Norway
Sources
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.