male	male female European distribution male feeding

Identification

The all-black male with his bright yellow bill is unmistakable and the female is distinctively dark brown all over with only obscure streaking on the breast.

Habitat

Breeds and winters in woods, farmland, gardens, wasteground and hedges.

Behaviour

Blackbirds are one of many species which indulge in 'mate-guarding' whereby, when the female is in her most fertile period, the male never leaves her side. It would be sentimentally nice to think that he is protecting her but actually he is keeping watch on her to make sure she doesn't sneak off and copulate with a rival male. Once he knows she is no longer fertile he becomes much less attentive.

Migration

Resident or migratory depending on distribution. Birds from Scandinavia will winter in Britain while some British birds will move southwards.

This information is taken from the BirdFile on the appropriate BirdGuides DVD-ROM. As well as video and sounds, our CD- and DVD-ROMs contain additional text on Voice, Sexing, Ageing, Food, Nests and Eggs and more.

For the purposes of our bird news services, Blackbird is classed as Common: common species, including species that are certain or probable escapees from captivity when occurring in the British Isles. (Note that rarity levels are currently applied nationally and may not reflect local variations in abundance.)

Cathedine, Powys 17/08/2010	Buxton, Derbys 23/06/2010	Dunfermline, Fife 06/08/2010	Whitstable, Kent 05/08/2010	Old Moor, S Yorks 28/06/2010
Morfa Nefyn, Gwynedd 01/08/2010	Plymouth, Devon 08/07/2010	Carsegowan Moss, Dumf & Gall 26/07/2010	undisc. site, Dorset 25/07/2010	Carsegowan Moss, Dumf & Gall 12/07/2010

 View all pictures of Blackbird

Blackbird breeds in the following countries (Bird News Extra subscribers will see population statistics and information on trends for each country):

Albania
Andorra
Armenia
Austria
Azerbaijan
Azores
Belarus
Belgium
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Britain
Bulgaria
Canary Islands
Croatia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Faroe Islands
Finland
France
Georgia
Germany
Gibraltar
Greece
Hungary
Iceland
Ireland
Italy
Latvia
Lichtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macedonia
Madeira
Moldova
Netherlands
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Russia
Serbia and Montenegro
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Turkey
Ukraine

http://www.avibirds.com/euhtml/Blackbird.html   Avibirds: Blackbird	Edit this link
	Broken link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gi128TK5qwk   Blackbird singing	Edit this link
Blackbird song compared to Robin	Broken link
BTO BirdFacts: Blackbird	Edit this link
	Broken link
Recommend a new link

BirdGuides Ltd are not responsible for the content of external sites. If you find a broken link, please click the appropriate "Broken link" link above`.

	The 'Whitebird'	Monday 15th March 2010
	Will Bowell has an unusual garden visitor.   read on

 BirdGuides webzine