Blackbird
Characteristics
The male is distinguished by its all black plumage, yellow bill and eye ring. The females are brown with mottled under parts with a brown beak.
Habitat
The Blackbird is common in woods and gardens; it is omnivorous, eating a wide range of insects, earthworms, seeds and berries. It nests in bushes or similar environments, laying several bluish-green-grey eggs with brown reddish marks in a neat cup-shaped nest.
Behaviour
The Blackbird’s rich, fluty, warbling song, punctuated by pauses, is a herald of spring. The male sings its varied and melodious song from trees, rooftops or other elevated perches.
It sings mainly in the period from March to June, sometimes into the beginning of July. In very mild winters, the Blackbird’s song is heard in February and even in January. Its alarm call of ‘pink-pink-pink’ is also a familiar sound.
The Blackbird can often be seen standing with its head cocked to one side, listening for worms before pulling them out of the ground.
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