Bird Facts: The Common Blackbird

30 things you need to know about the Common Blackbird (Turdus merula), a bird found across Europe, North Africa and parts of Asia. It is also present in Australia and New Zealand where it was introduced in the 19th century.

The video looks at the Common Blackbird’s distribution, favoured habitats, appearance, size and weight, diet, nest construction and breeding cycle. The video also includes a male Common Blackbird singing its rich fluty song.

Several subspecies of Common Blackbird are found across its range. This video features the nominate subspecies Turdus merula merula which is found across most of Europe. The adult male has black plumage with a yellow-orange bill and eye ring. The adult female is dark brown often with lighter brown streaks on the chest. Juveniles are also dark brown with lighter steaks and sometimes a speckled chest. Length: 24-25 cm (9.4-9.8 in), Wingspan: 35-37 cm (13.8-14.6 in), Weight: 80-105 g (2.8-3.7 oz).

Favoured habitats include woodland, farmland, parks and gardens. Common Blackbirds usually feed on the ground. Their diet is varied and includes earthworms, insects, fruit and berries.

Common Blackbirds typically raise two or three broods a year. The female builds a cup-shaped nest using grasses, small twigs and other vegetation. The nest is usually built in a bush, climbing plant, small tree or inside an accessible building. The female typically lays between 3 and 5 eggs and incubates them for around two weeks. On hatching, the chicks are featherless and entirely dependent on their parents care. Both parents feed the chicks.

After feeding, the parent often leaves the nest with a faecal sac, disposing of it well away from the nest. This behaviour keeps the nest clean and means predators are less likely to find the nest by its smell. The chicks leave the nest around two weeks after hatching and are fed by their parents for further 2 or 3 weeks.

The Common Blackbird sings its rich fluty song throughout the breeding season. At other times of the year it sings a more subdued version.

The Beatles included a Common Blackbird singing on their song ‘Blackbird’.

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Thank you for watching!

[AKBrechin]

I’ve been feeding the blackbird couple in my garden with raisins all year and was tickled pink to see them growing bolder and more trusting by the day. I was rewarded a few months ago when (I swear) they introduced me to their baby — a plump, clumsy, blinking fluff ball, who now appears on its own whenever it sees me through the kitchen window. It initially would run and hide when I went into the garden — face-first in a bush, which I find so funny and utterly charming — but they all trust me and it’s an absolute joy to have them.

[giorgioderossi]

They love bathing in my garden's fountain and I love to see them bathing too.

[sonjaschoor]

The blackbird is my favorite bird! Their singing just before the sun goes down reaches my soul. So beautiful!

[FifthRobin]

Blackbirds are some of my favourite birds, especially since around the mating season this year I fell in love with one which would sing at the top of my neighbours tree and their song is so wonderful! Great video, beautiful footage!

[libmananchannel]

Hello my friend! Thanks for the very interesting video! Thank you for always showing us the lovely birds! It's really wonderful! Thanks for uploading! Have a nice weekend!

[glenysgallagher]

Such a lovely video. Thank you so much for sharing the joy.

[greyriddance]

I love blackbirds, and your videos.
I had their nest on my balcony for 2 years in a row, and could watch the babies grow and fly away.
Lovely.

[trevorstyles]

Thank you for this. The blackbird is one of my favourite birds. They have a marvellous song.

[derekgb]

Love the sound of the Blackbird song. For me it is indicative of the start of the British Summer. At early evening in the Summer they seem to all sing in their individual territories around 100-200m apart - a Summer chorus. 😀

[Derlet]

Beautiful bird and beautiful video. Thank you so much for sharing it! I loved it ❤

[BioBush]

It's a very nice bird, and there is good information here. It has "Common" in its name, but all the birds on your channel are interesting. Thanks for sharing them with us!

[suzanne]

My favourite bird with its cheery song. Thank you for this charming film. 😊

[VideoNatur]

Nice video, Thanks! Kind regards, Rolf

[airbagfan]

Everyone else's blackbirds: (chirping and singing)

The blackbirds we have in our garden: bah bah (alarm call intensifies)

[darijenzornaen]

having incredibe experiences here in my garden, the male working like mad feeding it's 2 babies and the female just eating for itself. Never have I witness such a calm and tame bird. Extremely inqusitive....

[annalau]

loved this video, thank you, one of my favourite birds, love watching them fly as they're so fast and acrobatic

[FollowThomas]

Blackbirds in Europe are good singers but here on Florida not at all. Beautiful sharing of blackbird is busy nesting👍

[leewilkinson]

Brilliant info thanks. I get a black bird feeding in my garden every day & it's very friendly it doesn't fly away when I go out with food for it

[AllisonStrachan]

At the moment there is snow on the ground and our garden is a haven for all species. We have at least a dozen blackbirds at a time coming in to feed, numerous sparrows, a couple of robins, starlings, wood pigeons and of course sea gulls!! I can't wait for the blackbirds to start singing as it does something for your very soul.

[jeandixon]

The EGGS! In one frame they are a soft forest green and in another a delicate blue... just stunning 💚💙💚