Thrushes (Turdidae)
Blackbird
Turdus merula
- Length
- 24 cm
- Weight
- 100 g
- Clutch
- 3–5 eggs
- Incubation
- 13–14 days
- Fledging
- 13–14 days
- Broods
- 2–3 per year
- Nest box
- Does not use enclosed boxes
Identification
- Male all black with an orange-yellow bill and eye-ring
- Female dark brown with a mottled breast
- Hops across lawns with head cocked
Rich, mellow, fluting song from rooftops at dusk.
Diet and garden feeding
Earthworms and insects; fruit in autumn and winter.
- Best foods: Soaked sultanas, Apples, Mealworms, Suet pellets.
- Windfall apples left on the lawn feed Blackbirds, Redwings and Fieldfares in hard weather.
Nesting
Mud-lined cup in hedges, climbers or sheds.
Blackbirds by country
England
Resident all year · nests March–July
Scotland
Resident all year · nests April–July
Wales
Resident all year · nests March–July
Northern Ireland
Resident all year · nests March–July
Ireland
Resident all year · nests March–July
Netherlands
Resident all year · nests March–July
Belgium
Resident all year · nests March–July
Germany
Resident all year · nests March–July
France
Resident all year · nests March–July
Denmark
Resident all year · nests March–July
Sweden
Summer visitor · nests April–July
Norway
Summer visitor · nests April–July
Finland
Summer visitor · nests April–July
Spain
Resident all year · nests February–July
Portugal
Resident all year · nests February–July
Italy
Resident all year · nests February–July
Austria
Resident all year · nests March–July
Switzerland
Resident all year · nests March–July
Poland
Resident all year · nests March–July
Sources
Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.