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Spring Watch: blackbird
Blackbirds are one of our most familiar wild bird species in the UK and a popular garden
resident. Male blackbirds have black plumage and a bright yellow beak. Female blackbirds
have brown plumage, a mottled breast and a brownish beak. Juvenile blackbirds have speckled
brown feathers. Their flight is usually low and over short distances and often accompanied by
a harsh chattering alarm call.
Where to record
When to record
Blackbirds (Turdus merula) can be found all over the
UK, except in the most barren uplands. You can record
blackbirds anywhere, for example in gardens, parks and
cities.
Our records show that blackbirds tend to start feeding
their young from mid-March to May. The timing of the
blackbird breeding season is affected by the weather.
Warm weather in spring can cause blackbirds to start
breeding earlier. Blackbirds usually produce two or three
broods a year. Each brood usually has three to five eggs
which are a light green-blue colour with brown spots.
Only 30-40% of nests produce fledged young.
What to record
Record the date that you first see adult blackbirds
carrying food to their nests to feed their young. Look for
adult birds with beaks full of worms and caterpillars,
and numerous daily movements to and from nest sites.
If you spot young birds that have left the nest but are
still being fed, please do not record this. Please take care
not to get too close to nests as this may disturb the
adults and encourage them to abandon the nest.
Volunteers have recorded blackbird first feeding of
young as part of Nature’s Calendar since 2001 and
we have earlier records dating back to 1867. It will be
interesting to see when this event takes place this year,
compared to previous years.
Our climate is changing. Climate change will produce
some winners which are well adapted to climate change
and some losers which cannot adapt quickly enough.
Long-term monitoring of species like blackbird will help
scientists to gain a greater understanding of this issue,
and provide policymakers with hard evidence.
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WTML/Margaret Bart
Why blackbird?
Female blackbird
Not to be confused with...
Fabulous facts
Ring ouzel (Turdus torquatus)
Both blackbird and ring ouzel are from the
Turdidae (thrush) family. Ring ouzel are smaller
and slimmer than blackbirds. They have a
distinctive white breast band and are usually
found in uplands. They are also known as
mountain blackbird. Unlike resident blackbirds,
ring ouzel are migrant breeders and arrive in
the UK from March.
•
Blackbirds are residents in the UK, so can be seen
at any time of the year. In winter the population of
blackbirds in the UK increases, because blackbirds
from northern Europe visit for the warmer winter.
•
They nest in trees and bushes. Nests are made from
grass and plant material and lined with mud.
•
Male blackbirds establish a territory in their first year
which they defend against other blackbirds. They
tend to keep this territory for life.
•
Blackbirds have a wide repertoire of songs which are
relaxed and flute-like.
•
Blackbirds feed mainly on insects and earthworms
during the summer and on fruit and berries during the
winter. They tend to feed on the ground. You can help
blackbirds that visit your garden by leaving fallen
fruit on the ground.
•
When chicks leave the nest they are flightless at first
and learn to fly after about a week.
•
Blackbirds are monogamous, and established pairs
will stay together for as long as they both survive.
•
In folklore, a blackbird nesting near the house is seen
to be a harbinger of good fortune.
•
Blackbirds are found throughout the temperate parts
of Europe, Asia, North Africa and Australia.
•
The common name blackbird is first recorded as
applied to the species Turdus merula in 1486.
•
Some blackbirds are white! Albinism causes some
blackbirds to grow white feathers.
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Mistle thrush (Turdus viscivorus) and song
thrush (Turdus philomelos)
Female blackbirds may be confused with
mistle and song thrushes. To tell them apart,
look at their leg colour. Blackbirds have dark
reddish-brown legs, thrushes have pale legs.
Song thr
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How fast does spring move?
Theoretically, spring events should occur in the south west of the UK first, and gradually occur further north up the
map, as the season progresses. This is due to the differences in climate in the north and south of the UK. What is less
clear is how quickly certain signs will make an appearance up the country from south to north. Nature’s Calendar will
use your records to help answer the question ‘how fast does spring move?’
Recording tips
Once you have seen a sign of spring, please record it! Remember that you need to register on
the Nature’s Calendar website first. Registration naturescalendar.org.uk/register
Recording naturescalendar.org.uk/survey/login
Please choose somewhere you visit regularly (at least weekly) to record your signs of spring. This helps to ensure that
you spot when something happens for the first time.
7917 02/16
Nature’s Calendar is part of the Woodland Trust. Registered charity numbers 294344 and SC038885