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Blackbird Turdus merula [Linnaeus, 1758]
Other Names
Trends & Distribution
Breeding & Survival
Biometrics
Books & Links
Order:
Passeriformes
Family:
Turdidae
BTO Codes:
B. , BLABI
EURING No:
11870
Number in Britain:
4.6 million territories (Summer)
Conservation Status:
UK:
GREEN
European:
Not a species of concern
Global:
Least Concern
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IBC
Status in UK:
(A) Migrant/Resident Breeder, Passage/Winter Visitor
Subspecies:
merula recorded in Britain (of 16 subsp. in the world)
.
Length:
24 cm
Wingspan:
36 cm
Weight:
M/F: 100 g
Scientific name from:
L.: turdus =a thrush
and L.: merual =the blackbird
World Distribution:
Europe & w Asia, INTRODUCED: Australia
Habitat:
Woodland, scrub, towns
Diet:
Mainly insects and earthworms, also fruit, mostly from ground
TitBit:
Originally woodland birds, the Blackbird is a partial migrant, with individuals migrating different distances; one colour-ringed Blackbird that breeds in a garden in Norfolk makes it way to an almost identical garden in Devon every winter
Population and Distribution
Population Trend:
Regional Trends:
Distribution:
New Atlas )
British Population Size:
Summer:
4.6 million territories
in 2000
First Record:
8th Century
Habitat Occupancy (in the Breeding Season):
Most frequent in:
Villages, Towns
Also common in:
Scrub, Arable Farmland, Pasture Farmland, Deciduous Wood
And found in:
Coniferous Wood
Relative Frequency in Each Habitat:
European Population Size:
Summer:
38 to 79 million pairs
(Trend in Numbers )
Birds in Europe
Listed on the Appendices/Schedules of:
WCA(III), WBD(II*), Bern(III), Bonn(II)
Survey Results:
Breeding and Survival
Egg Size:
29 x 21 mm
Egg Weight:
7.2 g (of which 6 % is shell)
Number of Nest Records:
1544
Clutch Size:
3 - 4 eggs
3.86 ± 0.75 (2 - 7) N = 3254
Incubation:
13 - 14 days
12.97 ± 1.34 (11 - 16) N = 3254
by the:
Female
Fledging:
14 - 16 days
14.64 ± 1.54 (12 - 17) N = 3892
as:
Altricial, downy
Source:
British Trust for Ornithology (2005) Nest Record Scheme data
First Clutches Laid:
22 Apr (22 Mar - 14 Jun)
Number of Broods:
2-3(5)
Trends in Breeding Productivity
Number Ringed:
28596
Adult Survival:
0.65
Juvenile Survival:
0.564 (in First-Year)
Age at First Breeding:
1
year
Typical Lifespan:
3
years
Maximum Recorded Age:
14yr2m
(Germany: 21yr 1m)
Biometrics
Ring Size:
C
Wing Length
Adult:
130.8 ± 4.4
Range
124 - 138 mm, N =81803
Juvenile:
129.8 ± 3.9
124 - 136 mm, N =53822
Male:
132.9 ± 3.9
126 - 139 mm, N =42493
Female:
128.6 ± 3.8
123 - 134 mm, N =39130
Weight
Adult:
101.8 ± 12.09
Range
87.00 - 122.0 g , N =65475
Juvenile:
100.0 ± 9.34
86.00 - 116.0 g , N =42885
Male:
102.5 ± 12.56
87.00 - 124.0 g , N =33791
Female:
101.1 ± 11.54 .
86.00 - 120.0 g , N =31528
Source:
British Trust for Ornithology (2005) Ringing Scheme data
Other Names
Common Blackbird
Gaelic:
Lòn-dubh
Welsh:
Mwyalchen
Danish:
Solsort
Dutch:
Merel
Finnish:
Mustarastas
French:
Merle noir
German:
Amsel
Hungarian:
Feketerigó
Icelandic:
Svartþröstur
Irish:
Lon Dubh
Italian:
Merlo
Norwegian:
Svarttrost
Polish:
Kos
Portuguese:
Merlo-preto
Spanish:
Mirlo común
Swedish:
Koltrast
For More Information...
Books and Monographs:
Snow, D.W. 1958 A study of blackbirds George Allen Unwin Ltd, London
[598.911 SNO]
Snow, D.W. 1987 The Blackbird Shire Publications, Princes Risborough
[Jour: S]
Hillstead, A.F.C. 1945 The Blackbird Faber & Faber, London
[598.911 HIL]
See Also:
BirdFacts home | BTO Home birdfacts@bto.org These data should be cited as:
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