<P> "Nightingale" is derived from "night", and the Old English galan, "to sing". The genus name Luscinia is Latin for "nightingale" and megarhynchos is from Ancient Greek megas, "great" and rhunkhos "bill". </P> <P> The common nightingale is slightly larger than the European robin, at 15--16.5 cm (5.9--6.5 in) length . It is plain brown above except for the reddish tail . It is buff to white below . Sexes are similar . The eastern subspecies L. m. hafizi and L. m. africana have paler upperparts and a stronger face - pattern, including a pale supercilium . The song of the nightingale has been described as one of the most beautiful sounds in nature, inspiring songs, fairy tales, opera, books, and a great deal of poetry . </P> <P> It is a migratory insectivorous species breeding in forest and scrub in Europe and south - west Asia, and wintering in sub-Saharan Africa . It is not found naturally in the Americas . The distribution is more southerly than the very closely related thrush nightingale Luscinia luscinia . It nests on or near the ground in dense vegetation . Research in Germany found that favoured breeding habitat of nightingales was defined by a number of geographical factors . </P> <Ul> <Li> less than 400 m (1300 ft) above mean sea level </Li> <Li> mean air temperature during the growing season above 14 ° C (57 ° F) </Li> <Li> more than 20 days / year on which temperatures exceed 25 ° C (77 ° F) </Li> <Li> annual precipitation less than 750 millimetres (30 in) </Li> <Li> aridity index lower than 0.35 </Li> <Li> no closed canopy </Li> </Ul>

Where do nightingales live in the united states of america