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The books are listed in order of publication date with the most recent at the top.

Nightingale

Common Nightingale
(Rufous Nightingale)
Luscinia megarhynchos

The Nightingale was formerly classified as members of the thrush family Turdidae and is therefore included in some books about thrushes.

However the Nightingale has recently been reclassified and is now considered to be a member of the old-world flycatcher family Mucicapidae and of the genus Luscinia.

Other member of genus Luscinia:

Bluethroat
Luscinia svecica

Siberian Rubythroat
Luscinia calliope

Rufous-tailed Robin
(Swinhoe's Nightingale)
Luscinia sibilans

Thrush Nightingale
Luscinia luscinia

Indian Blue Robin
(Indian Bluechat)
Luscinia brunnea

White-tailed Rubythroat
Luscinia pectoralis

Rufous-headed Robin
Luscinia ruficeps

Blackthroat
Luscinia obscura

Firethroat
Luscinia pectardens

Siberian Blue Robin
Luscinia cyane

Robins and Chats

Peter Clement and Chris Rose

2015

"This authoritative handbook, part of the Helm Identification Guides series, looks in detail at the world's 170 species of robins and chats. This large family of small passerines was formerly considered to be part of the thrush family (Turdidae), but is now usually treated as a separate family, Muscicapidae, together with the Old World flycatchers. The vast majority of species are Eurasian or African, with only a handful of species straying into the New World or Australasia. The Australian Robins, although superficially similar, have long been regarded as a separate family. Robins and chats are a diverse family comprising both highly colourful and visible species, such as the robin-chats of Africa, as well as some of the most skulking and elusive birds, such as the shortwings of Asia. Many chats, such as the well-known Nightingale, are renowned songsters, and a good number are highly sought-after by world listers for their extreme rarity or simply because they are hard to see. This book discusses the identification and habits of these birds on a species-by-species basis, bringing together the very latest research with accurate range maps, more than 600 stunning colour photographs that illustrate age and racial plumage differences, and 64 superb colour plates by the internationally renowned artist, Chris Rose."

Managing Scrub for Nightingales

British Trust for Ornithology

2015

"The Nightingale is a very well known, yet rarely seen, bird that is found across parts of southern England. It favours scrub and woodland habitats for breeding and its populations are known to be particularly sensitive to changes in the structure of woodland vegetation. This guide draws on BTO research to highlight the requirements of this scarce bird for nesting habitat and provides advice on how to manage scrub habitats for the benefit of Nightingales.

Anglia Water has been working with the BTO to research why Nightingales have declined by a staggering 90% in the UK since the 1960s and to share the effective habitat management practices developed on Anglian Water sites."

The Barley Bird: Notes on a Suffolk Nightingale

Richard Mabey

Images: Derrick Greaves

2010

"Richard Mabey, described as "Britain's greatest living nature writer", explores the nightingale's links with Suffolk culture and landscape, and traces the bird's course through myth, lore and tradition. He plumbs his subject for its fascinating literary and historical references, and opens the reader's ears to the bird itself and its extraordinary song, a hymn to survival. New images by Derrick Greaves accompany the text."

Thrushes

Peter Clement

Additional illustrations: Clive Byers and Jan Wilczur

Princeton University Press

2001

"This is the first book in nearly one hundred years that is solely devoted to thrushes, one of the most widespread and well-known families of birds in the world. It treats comprehensively the world's 162 species of true thrushes and covers some of the best-known garden species as well as some of the rarest and most elusive of all birds. It also includes some of the most musically accomplished singers of any bird family. The book contains a wealth of detailed information on identification and distribution, with a full description of each species, including reference to all recognized races. Emphasis is given to vocalizations-often the key to identifying thrush species. Habitat and range for all species, together with information on movements and breeding behavior, are also covered. For the first time, all species in the family of Turdidae thrushes are described and illustrated in full color. These superb illustrations are complemented by line drawings depicting particular aspects of shape or plumage. The 60 color plates comprise approximately 540 images, covering all but one, long-extinct species. The depictions differentiate adults, immatures, and most of the distinctive races. The plates are accompanied by color maps showing the breeding and wintering range for each species. The detailed and accurate text and spectacular color illustrations will make this book indispensable to all ornithologists and birders. This will be, undoubtedly, the standard work on thrushes for many years to come."

Thrushes

Peter Clement

Christopher Helm

2000

Covers the 162 species in the family Turdidae. Includes 60 colour plates which show all species with immature birds and distinct races. Additional line drawings highlight aspects of shape or plumage. Colour distribution maps show the breeding and wintering range for each species. The text includes information about identification, geographical variation, voice, status and distribution, movements, habitat, behavior, and measurements for all species.

Nightingales: A Celebration

1998

"A spectacular CD, dedicated to the Nightingale. The main part of the recording is nearly an hour of modern Nightingale recordings, from different parts of the country and at different times of day. Accompaniment is provided by warblers, owls, woodcock, muntjac etc. Also included are historic recordings, expertly re-mastered, including the first ever bird recording, the famous 1927 recording of a bird singing as Beatrice Harrison played her cello and the competition between Nightingales and RAF bombers recorded in Surrey in 1942."

The Book of Nightingales

Richard Mabey

1997

"Despite being the most celebrated songbird in the western world, the real nightingale is a drab-coloured migrant. Mabey examines why humans have so often fallen under its spell; how it came to inspire the Romantic poets; and what this tells us about our own responses to place and season."

Whistling in the Dark: In Pursuit of the Nightingale

Richard Mabey

1993

"For a thousand years the nightingale has been the most celebrated song-bird in the western world. In French troubadour lyrics, Romantic poems, even wartime propaganda, its exquisite oratorical song has symbolized both the renewing powers of nature and human love. Yet the real nightingale is a drab-coloured migrant, whose song is reckoned by scientists to be no different from any other bird's - a proclamation of territorial rights. So why have humans always fallen under its spell? This book looks at the natural history as well as the literary history of the nightingale."

Nightingale

J.H. Allchin

Educational Series No. 18

Society for the Protection of Birds

1890's

A 4 page guide that provides a brief description and information on distribution, numbers, food, characteristics, protection, plus one and a half pages of general remarks.