Birds that sing at night

[Shadwell]

Walking home around mid-night down a dark lane in rural East Wales last night,high above us and perched on top of tree was a bird in "full voice".Behind the bird was a fairly busy road which had street lights,the moon was not quiet full,so there was was plenty of light.As far as I recall,the bird was around starling size and also had a lightish under belly.The song itself
had a bit of shrill to it.....if that is a correct term to use.
We have considered a robin, but we felt that the bird was just to big.
Possibly a thrush,but we were to far away to identify it

Any advice/help that anybody can offer on this subject would be much appreciated

[Dogghound]

Could quite easily and most likely be on of the thrush species. Robins tend not to go to the tops of high tree's. They are more common singing in lower branches or tall shrubs.

[aeshna5]

Yes possibly a Song Thrush.

Robins regularly sing from small/medium sized tree tops around here, though agree with Dogghound not so often at the top of tall trees. This species regularly sings at night where there is some lighting though I would describe the song as sweet + mellifluous, so the song description may lend more credence to perhaps a Song Thrush.

[Shadwell]

Many thanks for your responses,that has helped clarify things.
We have Song and Mistle Thrushes in our garden,they are both fairly common in our area.So it is possible that it was a Song Thrush taht we saw/hearted that night.Many thanks.

[thebeard]

have a look on here and listen to the soundclip in the top left hand corner
The RSPB: Song thrush

i'd say it'll be a songthrush. i had trouble sleeping last night and there was one singing outside my window at about 4am. was nice to hear, even though i just wanted to be asleep!

[Shadwell]

Many thanks for your responses,they helped to put our minds at rest.
We have Song and Mistle Thrushes who feed in our garden,they are both fairly common in this area.So it is very likely that it was Song Thrush that we heard/saw that night.

[Shadwell]

Thank you thebeard,I have just played the sound clip you recommended.From memory it sounds identical, spot on I would say.One question I haven't asked is why it should so prominent late at night