Common Blackbird

Common Blackbird
Adult male
Scientific Classification
Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Chordata
Class	Aves
Family	Passeriformes
Genus	Turdus
Species	T. merula
Conservation Status
Least Concern

The Common Blackbird (Turdus merula) is a species of true thrush. It is also called the Eurasian blackbird (especially in North America, to distinguish it from the unrelated New World blackbirds), or simply the blackbird where this does not lead to confusion with a similar-looking local species. It breeds in Europe, Asiatic Russia, and North Africa, and has been introduced to Australia and New Zealand. It has a number of subspecies across its large range; a few of the Asian subspecies are sometimes considered to be full species. Depending on latitude, the common blackbird may be resident, partially migratory, or fully migratory.

The adult male of the common blackbird (Turdus merula merula which is the nominate subspecies), which is found throughout most of Europe, is all black except for a yellow eye-ring and bill and has a rich, melodious song; the adult female and juvenile have mainly dark brown plumage. This species breeds in woods and gardens, building a neat, mud-lined, cup-shaped nest. It is omnivorous, eating a wide range of insects, earthworms, berries, and fruits.

Both sexes are territorial on the breeding grounds, with distinctive threat displays, but are more gregarious during migration and in wintering areas. Pairs stay in their territory throughout the year where the climate is sufficiently temperate. This common and conspicuous species has given rise to a number of literary and cultural references, frequently related to its song.

Appearance

Adult males are glossy black, with a bright golden-yellow beak and, during spring and summer, a yellow ring around their eyes. After breeding season, the beak starts to turn darker. Females are brown with streaky dark mottling on their paler, reddish brown breast. Juveniles look like females, but have pale spots on their upperparts; first-year males are duller black than adult, with duller yellowish bill.

Occurrence

Common blackbirds breed in Europe, North Africa, India and southern China. Populations in the north and east migrate to winter in Egypt and the west and south-east of Asia. These birds were also introduced into Australia and New Zealand during the 1850s. This species lives in very varied habitats, common and widespread in wooded habitats, parks, gardens, farmland with hedges; often feeds in fields and on lawns, if the cover is dense enough for hiding.

Bibliography

• “Eurasian Blackbird.” EBird, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, http://ebird.org/species/eurbla.
• “Common Blackbird.” Common Blackbird - Facts, Diet, Habitat & Pictures on Animalia.bio, 2018, http://animalia.bio/common-blackbird.