Nightingale is a small, dull-colored bird famed for its beautiful, sad song. The bird lives in central and western Europe for most of the year, but it spends winters in Africa. The name nightingale also refers to a number of other, less common birds.
The nightingale grows about 6 to 7 inches (15 to 18 centimeters) long. The upper parts of its body are russet-brown, and the underparts are predominantly grayish-white. The bird has a rounded tail. Its relatively long legs are well suited to traveling on land.
Nightingales usually live in dense woodland undergrowth and along streams in swampy thickets or hedges. They normally feed on insects and worms. When searching for food, the birds hop rapidly along the ground for a few moments and then stand motionless to listen for prey. Their songs are heard most often during spring or summer, usually in the early morning or late evening. Sometimes the songs last well into the night. The songs vary in their notes and may include imitations of other bird calls.
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Nightingales usually have one brood of young each year. They build a nest near the ground in dense thickets or hedges. The female lays four to six olive-brown eggs. Both parents care for the young.
