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| Blackbird – Turdus merula |
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The Blackbird is one of the most familiar of british birds, and is common to woodlands, fields and garden across UK & Ireland. The blackbird is quiet at home both in the town and the country. |
| Indentification |
| Male |
All black with yellow bill & eye ring. First winter males retain dark brown wing feathers and this distinguishes them from the more mature black winged males. |
| Female |
Browner in colour with a speckling of faint spots on the breast that varies in colour from brown to brownish grey. Their bill is Brownish in colour. |
| Size |
24 – 27cm |
| Bill |
yellow; short & thin |
| Legs |
Black: medium in length |
| Habitat |
can be found in gardens, heaths, woods & hedges |
| Behaviour |
Walk, hop & perch and can take off & land from vegetation or the ground |
| Flocking |
1 – 15 |
| Flight |
Direct, strong and powerful |
| Voice |
Fluty, Mellow song, warble & loud harsh chatter of alarm |
| Breeding |
| Nest |
trees & bushes |
| Eggs |
lay 3 – 5 eggs on average, eggs greenish blue, spotted red |
| Incubation period |
11 – 17 days |
| Fledgling |
13 – 14 days |
| Broods |
2- 3 between March to late June |
| Food |
Insects, worms, berries, seeds |
| UK breeding pairs |
4,700,000 pairs |
| Selection of popular products |
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