Nachtigall vs Rotkehlchen

Luscinia megarhynchos verglichen mit Erithacus rubecula

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Side-by-Side Comparison

Merkmal Nachtigall Rotkehlchen
Wissenschaftlicher Name Luscinia megarhynchos Erithacus rubecula
Ordnung Passeriformes Passeriformes
Familie Muscicapidae Muscicapidae
Erhaltungsstatus Least Concern Least Concern
Länge 16,5 cm (6.5 in) 14,0 cm (5.5 in)
Flügelspannweite 25,0 cm (9.8 in) 21,0 cm (8.3 in)
Gewicht 21,0 g (0.74 oz) 18,0 g (0.63 oz)
Ernährung Insects and larvae, supplemented with berries in autumn. Forages on or near the ground in … Insects, worms, and berries. Often follows gardeners and large animals to catch invertebrates disturbed from …
Gelegegröße 4-5 4-7
Population Trend
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Size Comparison

Body Length
Nachtigall 16,5 cm
Rotkehlchen 14,0 cm
Flügelspannweite
Nachtigall 25,0 cm
Rotkehlchen 21,0 cm
Gewicht
Nachtigall 21,0 g
Rotkehlchen 18,0 g
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Habitat Comparison

Gemeinsame Lebensräume

Nachtigall only

Rotkehlchen only

-

Nachtigall

Dense thickets, scrub, and undergrowth in deciduous woodland. Prefers areas with thick ground cover near water.

Rotkehlchen

Woodlands, hedgerows, parks, and gardens across Europe. Remarkably tame around humans, especially in Britain.

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Song & Call Comparison

Nachtigall

Gesang

Considered Europe's finest songster: an extraordinarily rich, loud, flute-like melody of bubbling trills, slow whistles, and a distinctive crescendo 'lu-lu-lu'. Sings day and night.

Rotkehlchen

Gesang

Exquisite, melancholic melody of thin whistled phrases, rising and falling softly. Rich, warbling song year-round; both sexes sing. Alarm call is a sharp 'tic-tic-tic'.

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Geographic Range & Migration

Nachtigall

Breeds in Europe and western Asia. Winters in sub-Saharan Africa. A long-distance migrant crossing the Sahara.

Rotkehlchen

Europe, western Asia, and parts of North Africa. Northern populations migrate south in winter; western European populations are largely resident.

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Erhaltungsstatus

Least Concern

Nachtigall

Least Concern

Rotkehlchen

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How to Tell Them Apart

Nachtigall

Gefieder

Plain warm brown upperparts with a rufous-chestnut tail. Pale greyish-white underparts. Unremarkable appearance belies its remarkable voice.

Schnabel

Thin, pointed, dark brown bill

Rotkehlchen

Gefieder

Olive-brown upperparts with a warm orange-red breast and face bordered by grey. White belly and undertail coverts.

Schnabel

Thin, pointed dark brown bill

Key Differences

  • • Weight: European Robin (18g) vs Common Nightingale (21g)
  • • Length: European Robin (14 cm) vs Common Nightingale (16.5 cm)
  • • Wingspan: European Robin (21 cm) vs Common Nightingale (25 cm)
  • • Habitat: European Robin prefers Woodlands, hedgerows, parks, and gardens across Europe. Rema; Common Nightingale prefers Dense thickets, scrub, and undergrowth in deciduous woodland
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About These Birds

Nachtigall

Die Nachtigall gilt als einer der begabtesten Sänger der Vogelwelt und hat Dichter von Homer bis Keats inspiriert. Männchen singen komplexe Strophen mit über 250 verschiedenen Typen, oft nachts während der Brutzeit. Trotz ihres berühmten Gesangs ist die Nachtigall unscheinbar gefärbt und hält sich verborgen im dichten Unterholz auf.

Rotkehlchen

Das Rotkehlchen zählt zu den beliebtesten Vögeln Großbritanniens, wo es als inoffizieller Nationalvogel gilt. Trotz seines zutraulichen Wesens gegenüber Menschen verteidigt das Rotkehlchen sein Revier gegenüber Artgenossen äußerst aggressiv und singt dafür das ganze Jahr über. Sein unverkennbarer Gesang gehört zu den ersten, die in der Morgendämmerung zu hören sind.

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