86 Baby Birds at Home 



and then suddenly return and inhabit it 

 again. 



The Nightingale is closely related to the 

 robin, and the two birds are very similar in 

 pose, and also in disposition and habits. If 

 their eggs are exchanged they will rear each 

 other's chicks without any difficulty. 



The nest of this species is made of dry 

 grass stems, dead leaves, moss, and rootlets, 

 with an inner lining of fine dry grass and 

 horsehair. It is built on or close to the 

 ground near a stump, trunk of a tree, or in 

 a bank. Four, five, or even as many as six 

 eggs are laid, of a dark olive green or olive 

 brown colour. 



The nestlings are fed by both parent birds 

 upon small caterpillars, moths, flies, and all 

 kinds of insects. The male Nightingale 

 generally ceases to sing as soon as the chicks 

 are hatched. The writer has, however, on 

 more than one occasion, heard one sing 

 immediately after having fed the chicks. 



Young birds of this species are, in their 

 first coats of feathers, somewhat similar in 

 appearance to fledgling robins. During July 

 and August young and old wing their way 

 south for the winter. 



