This week the article is about the song thrush. The thrush, after various tits, has probably the most amusing of common bird names. However, that is not it's only the merit.

The song thrush is a quite delightful bird, with a speckled brown body and brown wings. I've never seen one in my garden, however, early on a Sunday morning there is often one that happily hops about a local patch of greenery, which is where I took the third photograph.

The first was shot recently, on a bitterly cold but bright November day, the second is of lowish quality (and I've posted it before) but thought it deserved a re-airing.

According to the RSPB, its numbers are declining rapidly, earning it red status. However, there are still over a million breeding territories in the UK, and it can be found wherever there are bushes and trees.

Interestingly, the song thrush eats snails, smashing their shells against stones.