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Song thrush (Turdus philomelos)

On Lord Howe Island, the introduced Song thrush preys on native snails, insects and earthworms. Its predation has been linked to declines in the Lord Howe flax snail and other snail species.

Key facts

Type: Pest animal, bird.

Native to: Europe and western Asia.

Established in: NSW, VIC, TAS.

Other names: Mavis, Throstle.

Best time to act: Survey at dawn, when singing and ground-foraging can make the bird easier to detect.

Identification

  • A medium-sized thrush with brown upperparts and pale buff or cream underparts.
  • Look for bold dark, arrowhead-shaped spots across the breast and flanks.
  • It has a brown face, a fairly straight bill and pinkish legs.
  • Its song is musical, with phrases repeated several times.
  • Look-alike: A female Common Blackbird may look similar, but usually lacks the Song thrush’s bold, dark spots on pale underparts.

Where it lives

On Lord Howe Island it occurs in wooded areas, gardens and other modified habitats where it can forage on the ground.

Why it matters

  • Predation by Song thrushes has been linked to declines of the Lord Howe flax snail (Placostylus bivaricosus) and other snails in the genera Placostylus and Paryphanta.
  • The bird also preys on native insects and earthworms, as well as snails.
  • Habitat destruction and modification, predation by other introduced species, and human collection of live snails for their shells have also contributed to snail declines.
  • EICAT assessed its impact as Moderate; the assessment was published in 2023 and had a low confidence rating.

How it spreads

  • Song thrushes move by flight between feeding and nesting areas, allowing them to reach nearby suitable habitat.
  • The species was introduced to Lord Howe Island; report sightings away from its known Australian range to the relevant biosecurity authority.

Control methods

  • Confirm identification and consult the land manager and relevant NSW biosecurity authorities before planning control, particularly near threatened snails.
  • Use physical capture and removal only when authorised and carried out by trained operators; use no poison or other control method unless it is specifically approved for the site.
  • Where feasible, protect vulnerable snail habitat with approved exclusion measures.
  • Recheck treated areas, record results and report any birds found outside their known range to the relevant state biosecurity agency.

Site hygiene and welfare

  • Clean boots, tools, vehicles and other equipment before moving between sites, and avoid carrying soil or leaf litter that could contain snails or their eggs.
  • Do not move live snails, soil or garden material between sites.
  • Use methods set out in the national model codes of practice and standard operating procedures for the species.
  • Coordinate control with neighbours and the local government biosecurity plan, as isolated effort is quickly undone by reinvasion.

Classification by state

  • Australia (national): No national listing. Managed under state and territory law.
  • Queensland: Not prohibited or restricted. Not listed as prohibited or restricted matter in Queensland. Everyone must also take all reasonable and practical steps to minimise its risks (the general biosecurity obligation).
  • New South Wales: General biosecurity duty. Not prohibited matter in NSW. The general biosecurity duty applies: anyone dealing with it must prevent, eliminate or minimise the risk it poses.
  • Victoria: Not declared. Not declared under the Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994. Other Victorian laws may still apply.
  • South Australia: Not declared. Not declared under the Landscape South Australia Act 2019. Other laws may still apply.
  • Western Australia: Declared pest (C1), prohibited. C1 Exclusion: to be kept out of WA, or out of the parts of WA where it is not established. Report any sighting to DPIRD. It must not be brought into WA (prohibited organism).
  • Tasmania: Not a declared pest. Not a declared pest or prohibited matter in Tasmania. Importing animals is still controlled by Biosecurity Tasmania.
  • Northern Territory: Prohibited entrant. Wildlife that is not native to the NT is a prohibited entrant, so you need an NT permit to bring it in or keep it. Report any wild sighting to the NT Government.
  • Australian Capital Territory: Not declared. Not declared under the Biosecurity Act 2023 (ACT). A general biosecurity duty still applies.

Legal obligations

Every state and territory places a duty on landholders and people working on land to prevent the spread of invasive species, such as the general biosecurity obligation in Queensland and the general biosecurity duty in New South Wales. Declarations and control requirements differ between states and local government areas, so check the current official list before work starts.

  • New South Wales: Biosecurity Act 2015 (NSW), administered by NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development
  • Victoria: Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994 (Vic), administered by Agriculture Victoria
  • Tasmania: Biosecurity Act 2019 (Tas), administered by Biosecurity Tasmania

Sources