Species Profile
Blackbird
Turdus merula
Blackbird
Quick Facts
Conservation
LCLeast ConcernAlso known as: Common Blackbird, Eurasian Blackbird
Gallery
Appearance
The male Blackbird is a striking, glossy black with a bright yellow eye-ring and bill. Its legs are dark brown. Females, in contrast, are predominantly brown with a mottled breast and a duller bill.
Juveniles resemble females but have a more rufous tinge and subtle spotting. Adults may show slight brown fringes on their feathers during autumn after moulting.
Identification & Characteristics
Male Colors
- Primary
- Black
- Beak
- Yellow
- Legs
- Brown
Female Colors
- Primary
- Brown
- Secondary
- Grey
- Beak
- Brown
- Legs
- Brown
Female Markings
Mottled breast
Attributes
Understanding Attributes
Rated 0–100 based on research and observation. A score of 50 is average across all bird species. These attributes are relative and don't necessarily indicate superiority.
Habitat & Distribution
Blackbirds are widely distributed across Europe, northwest Africa, and western Asia to western Kazakhstan. They thrive in various habitats, including woodlands, parks, gardens, and urban areas. In the UK, they are one of the most common garden birds.
While some populations are resident year-round, others in northern Europe migrate south for winter. They have also been successfully introduced to Australia and New Zealand, where they are now common in urban and rural areas.
Where and when to see it
How often the Blackbird turns up in the UK and Ireland through the year, from birdwatchers' records.
United Kingdom
Resident · all year · most records in June
Ireland
Resident · all year · most records in May
Show as a table
| Month | United Kingdom | Ireland |
|---|---|---|
| January | 3.1% (regular) | 2.6% (regular) |
| February | 3.0% (regular) | 2.5% (regular) |
| March | 2.9% (regular) | 2.9% (regular) |
| April | 2.9% (regular) | 3.3% (regular) |
| May | 3.1% (regular) | 3.6% (regular) |
| June | 3.3% (regular) | 3.1% (regular) |
| July | 2.7% (regular) | 1.9% (regular) |
| August | 1.7% (regular) | 1.3% (regular) |
| September | 1.6% (regular) | 1.5% (regular) |
| October | 2.2% (regular) | 1.9% (regular) |
| November | 2.8% (regular) | 2.5% (regular) |
| December | 3.2% (regular) | 2.8% (regular) |
Recorded regularly in
Worldwide: recorded regularly in 77 countries
Countries where it was recorded in at least 3 of the 6 years 2019–2024. Linked countries have their own bird list.
Europe (51)
- Åland Islands
- Albania
- Andorra
- Austria
- Belarus
- Belgium
- Bosnia & Herzegovina
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- Czechia
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Faroe Islands
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Gibraltar
- Greece
- Guernsey
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Isle of Man
- Italy
- Jersey
- Kosovo
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Moldova
- Monaco
- Montenegro
- Netherlands
- North Macedonia
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- Russia
- San Marino
- Serbia
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Ukraine
- United Kingdom
- Vatican City
Asia (19)
- Armenia
- Azerbaijan
- China
- Cyprus
- Georgia
- Iran
- Iraq
- Israel
- Jordan
- Kazakhstan
- Kuwait
- Kyrgyzstan
- Lebanon
- Palestinian Territories
- Syria
- Tajikistan
- Turkey
- Turkmenistan
- Uzbekistan
Oceania (3)
- Australia
- New Zealand
- Norfolk Island
Data: EOD – eBird Observation Dataset (Cornell Lab of Ornithology), accessed via GBIF.org, CC BY 4.0. Records from 2019–2024, aggregated and filtered by Birdfact. How these lists are made
Diet
Blackbirds are omnivorous, eating primarily invertebrates such as earthworms, insects, and snails. They also consume various fruits and berries, particularly in autumn and winter.
Their feeding behaviour involves probing the ground with their bill and flicking aside leaves to uncover hidden prey.
Behaviour
Blackbirds are often seen hopping across lawns, pausing to listen for earthworms. During the breeding season, they are territorial, with males vigorously defending their areas through song and occasional physical confrontations.
They may form loose flocks in winter, especially when foraging in fruit-rich areas.
Calls & Sounds
The Blackbird's song is a rich, melodious warble, often described as flute-like and unhurried. Males typically sing from high perches, especially at dawn and dusk.
Their alarm call is a sharp, repeated 'chink-chink-chink'. When startled, they may emit a characteristic harsh, chattering 'tseee-tseee-tseee' as they fly away.
- Song0:00 / 0:31
Recorded in Hampshire, England · June 2021
- Call0:00 / 0:58
Recorded in Normandie, France · October 2024
Nesting & Breeding
Blackbirds typically breed from March to July in the UK. Males attract females with their melodious songs and displays of their bright bills. Pairs often remain together for multiple seasons.
The female constructs a large cup-shaped nest of dry grass stems, small twigs packed with mud, and lined with fine grass and stems, usually placed 0.5-15 m off the ground in bushes, trees, climbing plants, or human structures. She lays 3-5 pale blue-green eggs with reddish-brown speckles.
Incubation lasts about 13-14 days, primarily by the female. Both parents feed the chicks, which fledge after about 13-15 days. Blackbirds often raise 2-3 broods per season.
Conservation
While the Blackbird is listed as Least Concern globally, some local populations face challenges. In the UK, numbers have declined in recent years, possibly due to agricultural practices and urban development changes.
Conservation efforts focus on maintaining diverse habitats and promoting wildlife-friendly gardening.
Elevation
Up to 2,300 meters
Additional Details
- Predators:
- Main predators include domestic and feral cats, sparrowhawks, and magpies. Eggs and nestlings are vulnerable to corvids, squirrels, and rats.
Birdwatching Tips
- Look for Blackbirds foraging on lawns, especially after rain
- Listen for their melodious song, often delivered from a high perch
- In the UK, watch for them turning over leaves in gardens during autumn
- Observe their bold behaviour around bird feeders
- Note the distinctive yellow eye-ring to differentiate from other black birds
Did You Know?
- Blackbirds can mimic other bird species and even human-made sounds in their songs.
- In the UK, a rare yellow variant of the Blackbird occasionally occurs due to a genetic mutation.
- Blackbirds feature prominently in European folklore and literature, including the Beatles' song 'Blackbird'.
- Blackbirds can dig through 5-7cm of snow to find food.
Community Photos
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