Length: 24-25cm
Wingspan: 34-38cm
Conservation Status: Green
Description: The distinctive male blackbird has jet black plumage with an orange-yellow bill and eye ring. Female black birds are brown, often with a dark mottling on the breast and have a darker bill than the male, sometimes almost completely brown. Juveniles are similar to the female but with stronger mottling on the underparts and a dark bill. From August, young male blackbirds begin to resemble adults, but will still have some brown in the wings and a dark bill.
Nesting: Blackbirds build their nest from grass, roots and sticks, usually bound together with mud, and site them in shrubs or trees. Breeding starts in March with 2-3 clutches of 3-5 eggs being laid. The eggs are greenish-blue with reddish spots and are incubated by the female for 12-14 days. Both parents feed the nestlings and they fledge after 10-19 days.
Feeding: Blackbirds will forage on the ground for insects and earthworms, often turning over leaf litter to pick through any tasty morsels that may be underneath. From late summer to early winter they will often switch to a diet richer in fruit and berries. Blackbirds are softbills so struggle to deal with tough seeds and grain so when feeding them in your garden, it is best to stick to a specially formulated softbill mix and offer it from a ground feeder rather than a bird table. Live foods and suet pellets are also a favourite of blackbirds.
Information and image from Garden Bird Supplies
If you want to attract blackbirds to your garden then you may be interested in the following products:
Ultiva Softbill Mix
Woodlook Ground Table
Mealworms
Blackbird Bird Call
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