Liquid song of an elusive bird

The plain brown appearance of the nightingale belies its glorious voice. From its perch in dense cover, these inconspicuous birds are difficult to spot. But their beautiful song, heard day or night, well deserves its renown. Comprised of flowing notes from low to high, the quicksilver performance is full of whistles and trills. After arriving from sub-Saharan Africa in April, males will sing through May and into June to attract a mate, who goes on to lay 2-5 eggs per clutch. Most of the UK population is found in the South East, in Sussex, Kent, Essex, Suffolk and Norfolk.