Blackbird | Facts & Information

Area: Europe, Asia, North Africa, Australia and New Zealand

Habitat: forests, agricultural, urban areas, etc.

Reproduction: begins at the age of one year. Then lay 4-5 eggs

Average age: longevity in the Wild is 3 years

Features: the male has black color, yellow beak and orange glasses (ring around the eyes).

The Blackbird (Turdus merula) is a songbird, also called the lone Thrush. It is a songbird widespread in Europe, Asia, North Africa, Australia and New Zealand, but is more prevalent on the European continent. Its Romanian name derives from Latin, in which it is called merula.

Northern populations migrate to southern Europe or even to Northern Africa in the winter season. In the past the Blackbird was a forest bird, but since the XIX century by the appearance of Parks began to live in gardens near man. Specimens from us are sedentary. In Romania, specimens may appear in winter from the Carpathian Mountain regions or from the northern areas of Europe. Migrating populations arrive in winter in northern Africa and Southwest Asia. The autumn migration of the Blackbird begins in September, the birds leave the wintering places in February-March. They benefit from the diversity of urban micro-habitats, with good nesting and feeding places, with hiding places in front of the weather or predators.

The European nesting population is very large at 40,000,000-82,000,000 pairs, and populations in a few countries increased between 1990 and 2000. The Blackbird is one of the most widespread birds in Europe, with a flock of 79 to 160 million specimens. The species has been assessed by the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of nature) and placed in the low risk category with minimum conservation concern. In Romania, black Blackbird, as well as several subspecies – stone Blackbird and collared Blackbird – are protected by law, their hunting is prohibited.

FEEDING THE BLACKBIRD    

It feeds mainly on animal food, but consumes, depending on the season, some fruits and vegetable seeds. It feeds during the day by searching through the leaf layer, listening to the soil to catch frames, or walking in trees and bushes for berries. The availability of food can be affected by the use of pesticides in agricultural areas and gardens, as well as the disappearance of tree fences as a result of the intensification of agriculture leads to the loss of suitable nesting sites. Farmers and gardeners can help by using less chemicals to ensure the existence of invertebrates caught by blackbirds to feed their young. Blackbirds also eat cherries, grapes and the berries of all kinds of ornamental bushes or ornamental trees planted in cities; they can also consume household debris.

APPEARANCE BLACKBIRD    

It is medium in size, with a long tail, easily recognizable by the male's uniform matte black plumage, light yellow-orange beak and yellow eye ring. The beak turns black in winter. Females have black-brown upperparts, Brown dotted chest and a whitish throat. The body length is 23.5-29 cm, the wingspan is 34-38 cm and the average weight is 100 g. it has an omnivorous diet, feeding on insects and Bream during the nesting season and berries in the autumn and winter season.

BLACKBIRD BEHAVIOR

His song is melodious and varied, of low tonality, reminiscent of the sounds emitted by the flute, and can be heard from March to June. In addition to this basic chirping, the Blackbird also emits other types of sounds, ranging from aggressive to alarm, which announces the presence of predators.

BREEDING BLACKBIRD

Reproduction begins at the age of one year. Males establish a territory in the first year, and monogamous pairs remain together until one of the partners dies. Before mating, the male performs a nuptial dance, running on the ground while bending his head and opening his beak. The female builds a cup-shaped nest from grass and leaves in low vegetation in a covered place. 4-5 eggs are laid starting in March and are hatched only by the female for 12-14 days. The average size of an egg is 29-21 mm. Both parents feed chicks that develop plumage 11-18 days after hatching. Puppies become independent 3 weeks later. Pairs can grow 2-3 generations per season.