Blackbird

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

For other uses, see Blackbird (disambiguation).

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.

Blackbirds are 23.5 to 29 cm in length. They are omnivorous, eating a wide range of insects, earthworms, seeds and berries. They nest in bushes or similar, laying several (usually 4) bluish- green-grey eggs with brown reddish marks in a neat cup-shaped nest.

They do not form flocks, although several birds, especially migrants, may be loosely associated in a suitable habitat. Female blackbirds are especially fierce in the spring when they compete and fight with each other for a good nesting territory. Male birds are also competitive and will protect their 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.

Adult males are all black except for a yellow eye-ring and bill. Adult female birds and juvenile birds have brown plumage and brown beaks and do not have a yellow eye-ring. Overall, juvenile birds are a slightly lighter brown than female birds and very young juvenile birds have somewhat speckled chests.

The male sings its varied and melodious song from trees, rooftops or other elevated perches.

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.

The blackbird is the national bird of Sweden.

[edit] Vocalisations

The Blackbird has a number of distinct calls:

• a thin high-pitched 'peeeeeeee'
• contact call, 'sriii'
• a low 'tuc tuc tuc'

[edit] Other blackbirds

Thrushes

Two related Asian Turdus thrushes, the White-collared Blackbird and the Grey-winged Blackbirds 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	Male leaving the nest while the female inspects the eggs
Male in mid-song	Blackbird nest

[edit] References

• BirdLife International (2004). Turdus merula. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 12 May 2006. Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern

[edit] External links

• ARKive - images and movies of the blackbird (Turdus merula)
• RSPB Blackbird page
• BBC Blackbird page
• Birds of Britain Blackbird page

Listen to the blackbird at:

• BBC Blackbird song
• Blackbird videos on the Internet Bird Collectionbg:Кос

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