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Eurasian Blackbird (Turdus merula) — photo 1 of 4
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Thrushes · Perching birds

Eurasian Blackbird

Turdus merula

Year-round

Voice

Song

steve

0:19

Alarm

Mirko Tomasi

0:13

Call

Sonothèque ADVL

0:59

How to recognize it

  • Medium thrush, long-tailed, about 25 cm

  • Adult male: glossy black with yellow bill and eye-ring

  • Female and juveniles: dark brown, lacking the black gloss

  • Often runs and hops on the ground; song is long, mellow, fluted, from trees or rooftops

About the species

The Eurasian Blackbird is one of the most familiar city singers. An adult male looks plain and unified rather than patterned, while females and young ones are calmer in tone and usually read as brownish.

You often notice it by voice before you see it. It sings clearly and with variety from a high perch, and gives sharp short calls when alarmed. Males are strongly territorial and do not welcome rivals, especially in the breeding season.

It lives in woods, gardens, and parks, and in towns it quickly gets used to people. It feeds on the ground, taking worms, insects, berries, and fruit; in mild climates many pairs stay on the same area all year, while some move away for winter.

Did you know?

  • Blackbirds gave up flying south

    Over the past two centuries, as British winters have grown milder, blackbirds across Britain and western Europe have steadily given up migration and become year-round residents.

  • Foraging behind a mole

    A female blackbird was observed following a mole tunneling just below the lawn surface, picking up every invertebrate it exposed, and actively chasing away other blackbirds to monopolize this improvised foraging opportunity.

  • Excellent vocal mimic

    The Eurasian Blackbird excellently reproduces sounds overheard from other birds and animals — vocal mimicry is a characteristic part of its behaviour.

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Sources