Blackbirds in Finland
When the Blackbird (Turdus merula) is present in Finland, when it nests, and which native Finland plants supply the food it depends on.
- Status in Finland
- Summer visitor
- Nesting season
- April–July
- Size
- 24 cm, 100 g
- Nest box
- Does not use enclosed boxes
When to expect blackbirds in Finland
The Blackbird arrives in Finland in spring to breed and leaves again in autumn. Brief, bright summers; nesting is compressed into May–July.
Increasingly overwinters in the south at feeders.
Boreal continental, forested and lake-strewn.
Nesting in Finland
In Finland the Blackbird usually nests April–July. Nest site: mud-lined cup in hedges, climbers or sheds. Clutches are 3–5 eggs, incubated for 13–14 days; chicks fledge after 13–14 days, and pairs raise 2–3 per year.
- The Blackbird does not use enclosed nest boxes — dense native shrubs and climbers give it nest sites.
- Avoid cutting hedges during the nesting season (roughly March to August) — in the UK, disturbing an active nest is an offence under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
Native Finland plants for blackbirds
Of the native plants we track for Finland, these 8 provide food the Blackbird uses:
Haws feed thrushes all winter; spring blossom supports hundreds of insect species.
Orange-red berries are a magnet for Blackbirds, thrushes and Waxwings from August.
Thorny cover that protects nests; early blossom for insects.
Hips persist into winter for thrushes and finches.
Translucent red berries in autumn.
Blackberries and impenetrable nesting cover.
Catkin seed for Siskins and Redpolls; many caterpillars for tit broods.
Cones hold seed that Siskins and Goldfinches feed on all winter.
Feeding in the garden
Earthworms and insects; fruit in autumn and winter.
- Best foods: Soaked sultanas, Apples, Mealworms, Suet pellets.
- Feeders: Ground tray, Open table.
- Windfall apples left on the lawn feed Blackbirds, Redwings and Fieldfares in hard weather.
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked
Are blackbirds in Finland all year?
No. The Blackbird is a summer visitor to Finland, arriving to breed and leaving in autumn. Increasingly overwinters in the south at feeders.
When do blackbirds nest in Finland?
Typically April–July. Clutches are 3–5 eggs, incubated for 13–14 days, with 2–3 per year.
Which native plants help blackbirds in Finland?
Hawthorn, Rowan, Blackthorn, Dog rose, Guelder rose, Bramble, Silver birch, Alder are native to Finland and provide food or cover the Blackbird uses.
Blackbirds in other countries
Other garden birds in Finland
Sources
- Blackbird — RSPB bird guide
- Blackbird — BTO BirdFacts
- Finnish Bird Atlas — Finnish Museum of Natural History
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.