Blackbird
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| Blackbird | ||||||||||||||
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An adult male Blackbird Birdsong | ||||||||||||||
| Conservation status | ||||||||||||||
| Least Concern | ||||||||||||||
| Scientific classification | ||||||||||||||
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| Binomial name | ||||||||||||||
| Turdus merula Linnaeus, 1758 |
The Blackbird or Common Blackbird (Turdus merula) is a European member of the thrush family Turdidae.
It is common in woods and gardens over all of Europe and much of Asia south of the Arctic Circle. Populations are resident except for northern birds which move south in winter[citation needed]. Urban males are more likely to overwinter in cooler climes than rural males, an adaptation made feasible by the warmer microclimate and relatively abundant food that allow the birds to establish territories and start reproducing earlier in the year[1].
The Blackbird is 23.5 to 29 cm in length. It is omnivorous, eating a wide range of insects, earthworms, seeds and berries. It nests in bushes or similar, laying several (usually 4) bluish- green-grey eggs with brown reddish marks in a neat cup-shaped nest.
It does not form flocks, although several birds, especially migrants, may be loosely associated in a suitable habitat. The female Blackbird is aggressive in the spring when it competes with others for a good nesting territory. The male is also competitive and will protect its territory by chasing away other males. If a fight between male Blackbirds does occur it is usually short and the intruder is soon chased away.
The male Blackbird is all black except for a yellow eye-ring and bill. The adult female and juvenile have brown plumage and a brown beak and do not have a yellow eye-ring. Overall, the juvenile is a slightly lighter brown than the female, and the very young juvenile has a speckled breast.
The male sings its varied and melodious song from trees, rooftops or other elevated perches. It sings mainly in the period from March to June, sometimes into the beginning of July. In very mild winters, Blackbird song is heard in February and even in January.
A Blackbird has an average life expectancy of 2.4 years and the oldest recorded age is 20 years.[2]
The Blackbird has been introduced to many parts of the world outside its native range. In Australia and New Zealand it is considered a pest and has an effect on natural ecosystems [citation needed] .
The Blackbird is the national bird of Sweden.
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[edit] Vocalisations
The Blackbird has a number of distinct calls:
- a persistent 'pink pink pink...'
- a mellow fluted song
- a clattering alarm call
[edit] Other blackbirds
Thrushes
Two related Asian Turdus thrushes, the White-collared Blackbird and the Grey-winged Blackbird are also named as blackbirds.
Larger relatives of the Blackbird in the thrush family include the New World American Robin (Turdus migratorius), the Mountain Robin (Turdus plebejus), and several other species named as robins.
Icterids
Around 20 species of the New World icterid family Icteridae are named as blackbirds because of their superficial resemblance to the Old World thrushes, but they are not closely related. They include the Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus), Red-breasted Blackbird ( Sturnella militaris), Yellow-headed Blackbird (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus) and the Melodious Blackbird (Dives dives).
[edit] Gallery
| A male attempts to distract a male Kestrel that is too close to its nest | A female | Chicks in a nest at the back of a greenhouse | Chicks in a nest |
| Male leaving the nest while the female inspects the eggs | Male in mid-song |