The Common Nightingale is a drab European bird renowned for its song. It frequently sings at night, a behavior from which its name is derived.
The nightingale is plain brown above, buff to white below and has a reddish tail. Eastern populations have paler upperparts and a stronger face-pattern including a white eyebrow.
The range of the Common Nightingale does not extend past south-east Asia, and is not frequently depicted in Japanese art. Instead:
That Bird Might Also be...
Japanese bush warbler: has also been known as the Japanese nightingale due to its song. It is similarly drab in appearance.
Japanese white-eye: has also been confused with a nightingale, but is distinct in appearance, having green plumage.
Red-billed leiothrix: also known as the Japanese nightingale, but not native to Japan, making this common name a misnomer.
