Nightingale | Songbird, Migratory, Nocturnal | Britannica (original) (raw)

nightingale, any of several small Old World thrushes, belonging to the family Turdidae (order Passeriformes), renowned for their song. The name refers in particular to the Eurasian nightingale (Erithacus, or Luscinia, megarhynchos), a brown bird, 16 centimetres (61/2 inches) long, with a rufous tail. Its strong and varied song, in which crescendo effects are prominent, is uttered by day or night from perches in shrubbery.

Listen: The call of the common nightingaleThe common nightingale, or Luscinia megarhynchos, is found in selective distribution in British Isles and southern Europe; in winter, it is found in northern and central Africa.

See all videos for this article

The thrush nightingale, or sprosser (E. luscinia), is a closely related, somewhat more northerly species with slightly darker plumage. Its song lacks the crescendo.

The term nightingale is also applied to other birds with rich songs, such as members of the neotropical nightingale thrush group, the Chinese nightingale (see Leiothrix), and, in the West Indies, the mockingbird.

Sea otter (Enhydra lutris), also called great sea otter, rare, completely marine otter of the northern Pacific, usually found in kelp beds. Floats on back. Looks like sea otter laughing. saltwater otters Britannica Quiz Animal Group Names

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

This article was most recently revised and updated by Meg Matthias.