{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Taxon",
  "slug": "blackbird",
  "name": "Blackbird",
  "scientificName": "Turdus merula",
  "category": "Bird",
  "summary": "The common blackbird (Turdus merula) is a familiar garden thrush across Europe, prized for its rich, fluting song. The male is glossy black with a bright orange-yellow bill and eye-ring, while the female is dark brown. About 27 cm (11 in) long and weighing 80 to 125 g, it forages for worms and berries in gardens, woodland, parks, and hedgerows. Most live only a few years, though some reach 20 or more, and the IUCN lists the species as Least Concern.",
  "conservationStatus": "Least Concern",
  "taxonomy": {
    "kingdom": "Animalia",
    "phylum": "Chordata",
    "class": "Aves",
    "order": "Passeriformes",
    "family": "Turdidae",
    "genus": "Turdus"
  },
  "stats": {
    "weightKg": 0.1,
    "lengthM": 0.27,
    "topSpeedKmh": 40,
    "lifespanYears": 20
  },
  "facts": [
    {
      "label": "Scientific name",
      "value": "Turdus merula"
    },
    {
      "label": "Diet",
      "value": "Omnivore (worms, insects, berries, fruit)"
    },
    {
      "label": "Habitat",
      "value": "Gardens, woodland, parks, hedgerows"
    },
    {
      "label": "Lifespan",
      "value": "3–4 years average (up to 20+)"
    },
    {
      "label": "Weight",
      "value": "80–125 g (2.8–4.4 oz)"
    },
    {
      "label": "Wingspan",
      "value": "34–39 cm (13–15 in)"
    },
    {
      "label": "Conservation status",
      "value": "Least Concern (IUCN)"
    }
  ],
  "range": {
    "nativeRange": "Gardens, woodland, and parks across Europe, North Africa, and western Asia; introduced to Australia and New Zealand.",
    "continents": [
      "Europe",
      "Asia",
      "Africa"
    ]
  },
  "sources": [
    {
      "citation": "IUCN Red List — Turdus merula.",
      "url": "https://www.iucnredlist.org/search?query=Turdus%20merula&searchType=species"
    },
    {
      "citation": "Animal Diversity Web — Turdus merula. University of Michigan Museum of Zoology.",
      "url": "https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Turdus_merula/"
    },
    {
      "citation": "Wikipedia — Blackbird.",
      "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_blackbird"
    }
  ],
  "lastReviewed": "2026-07-16",
  "canonicalUrl": "https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/blackbird/",
  "license": {
    "name": "CC BY-NC 4.0",
    "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/",
    "attribution": "Global Animal Guide — https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/blackbird/",
    "note": "Free to reuse for non-commercial purposes with attribution and a link back to the canonical page."
  }
}