The Blackbird

Family - Turdidae

Genus - Turdus

Species -Turdus merula

Blackbirds are one of the UK's most common birds. They are listed as "least concern" by the IUCN, and are resident birds to the UK year-round. Male blackbirds do live up to their name, as they are dressed in sheer black plumage, and have a stark orange-yellow beak and eye ring. Blackbirds are not long-lived, with many only surviving 3-4 years in the wild, although the world's oldest blackbird reached 21 years of age!

Male and female blackbirds can be distinguished as they look significantly different. Where males are black with an orange-yellow beak, females are brown with a much duller yellow coloured beak. Young blackbirds may be determined by their brown plumage and slightly speckled breast, although this is something they lose as they develop.

Blackbirds can be found in gardens, courtyards, parks, woodlands, moors, fens and urban areas across the UK, and are resident all year-round. They feed on a diet of primarily insects, berries and worms. Often, blackbirds can be seen standing on lawns with their heads tilted to one side, as below. This is a behaviour associated with feeding, in which the bird is listening for worm movement and feeling for vibrations within the underlying soil. This helps the bird to pinpoint the position of its prey in the ground, and this behaviour is seen in many bird species, not just blackbirds.

Males establish a territory early in the year with the help of its warbling songs, and generally retain this territory throughout their lives. They will breed with a female between March and July, with the weather being the main determinant of the breeding season. A breeding pair may raise up to four broods in any one breeding season, if conditions are favourable. However, the ensuing problem of climate change is having heavy consequences on the timing of the breeding season, with dry weather shortening the breeding period and leading to starvation and late broods.

Chicks are ready to fledge the nest at 13-14 days of age, and this early fledging is an adaptation to avoiding predators that may discover the nest. Fledgling birds generally learn to fly within one week, and become fully independent of their parents within approximately three weeks. Fledged young are generally the responsibility of the male parent, as the female prepares the next nest.

The populations of blackbirds nationwide dipped between the 1970's-90's, however an increase in their numbers was observed between 1995-2008. This was attributed to the decrease in hedgerow loss and drainage of wetlands. Food availability in dry weather is a major problem facing these birds, particularly during the breeding season, however gardeners and homeowners can help these birds by reducing the number of pesticides used, and by planting vegetation that attracts insects or produces berries.