Blackbird

The blackbird (Turdus merula) is one of the commonest garden birds in Britain, being found throughout the whole country. There are very few gardens in town or country that do not have at least one resident or visiting pair. Blackbirds can be seen throughout the year, even in the depths of winter, although some in more northerly areas move south in the Autumn.

Appearance

The male adult is glossy black with a bright yellow bill. In summer, the wings are browner. The female is dark brown on the wings and upper body, and somewhat lighter below, and its bill is a duller yellow colour than that of the male.

Males and females are similar in size, about 24-27 cm in length (about 10 inches).

Behaviour and breeding

Blackbirds often fly low to the ground, flicking their wings then gliding. The flight can look weak, but they can also fly strongly at greater heights. As they land, a blackbird will raise its tail in a fan and its wings will droop. On the ground it is happy to hop or run for long periods if there is no danger, pausing with its head cocked to one side as if listening, with its tail up.

The "speaking" voice is either a scolding "chik-chik-chik" or a deeper "chook-chook-chook", but it also has a beautiful singing voice, this being a clear fluty warble that ends in a low chuckle. You always know when there is a cat in the garden that is getting too close to a nest, because the blackbird can produce a hysterical screech that drowns out just about everything else!

Blackbirds nest in trees and hedges, and also in sheds and holes in walls. They breed from March to August, and can produce up to five broods in a season, laying 3-5 eggs each time.

Although blackbirds are usually seen in pairs, one can sometimes see mixed groups outside the breeding season, possibly consisting of adult families. Other birds do not feel threatened by blackbirds, which are happy to feed alongside most other species, although they are often intimidated by jackdaws.

If you feed your garden birds regularly, blackbirds can become quite tame. Our resident pair, especially the male, regularly hops up close to the house, even though our cat could pop out at any time. The blackbird is usually the last to fly off when a cat turns up to cross the garden.

Feeding

Blackbirds only feed from the ground or bird tables, as they are nobody's acrobats. We usually hang "fat balls" from hooks on posts in the garden, which the local jackdaws have learned how to tackle. However, jackdaws are messy feeders, and plenty of food usually falls to the ground, where the blackbirds are happy to pick up the pieces. They are also the birds most likely to attack windfall apples. They also eat worms, insects, slugs and snails. When eating slugs, blackbirds hate the slime so will carefully wipe it off the slug before eating it.

A family recently seen in our garden consisted of the parent birds and three fledglings who were reluctant to leave home. One of the youngsters refused to find food for him/herself and waited for mum to feed him, although the other two would happily root around in the undergrowth and find food for themselves. However, when mum returned all three would mob her in the hope of a free meal.

© John Welford