# Blackbird (*Turdus merula*)

> 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.

- **Category:** Bird
- **Conservation status (IUCN):** Least Concern
- **Range:** Gardens, woodland, and parks across Europe, North Africa, and western Asia; introduced to Australia and New Zealand.
- **Canonical page:** https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/blackbird/
- **Last reviewed:** 2026-07-16

## Scientific classification

- **Kingdom:** Animalia
- **Phylum:** Chordata
- **Class:** Aves
- **Order:** Passeriformes
- **Family:** Turdidae
- **Genus:** Turdus

## Facts at a glance

| Attribute | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Scientific name | Turdus merula |
| Diet | Omnivore (worms, insects, berries, fruit) |
| Habitat | Gardens, woodland, parks, hedgerows |
| Lifespan | 3–4 years average (up to 20+) |
| Weight | 80–125 g (2.8–4.4 oz) |
| Wingspan | 34–39 cm (13–15 in) |
| Conservation status | Least Concern (IUCN) |

## Appearance and sexes

The blackbird shows clear differences between the sexes. The male is entirely glossy black with a striking orange-yellow bill and a matching ring around the eye, while the female is a warm dark brown, often with faint mottling on the breast. Young birds resemble the female but are more rufous and spotted. Measuring about 27 cm (11 in) long with a wingspan of 34 to 39 cm and weighing 80 to 125 g, it is a medium-sized, round-bodied thrush.

## The blackbird's song

The blackbird is one of the finest songsters of the European countryside and gardens, and its music is a large part of its fame. The male sings a rich, mellow, flute-like series of phrases, typically from a high perch, most intensely at dawn and dusk through the breeding season. The song is varied and improvised, with birds often weaving in imitations of other sounds. Alongside the song, blackbirds give sharp alarm calls and a low chuckling when disturbed.

## Diet and foraging

Blackbirds are omnivores with a diet that shifts through the year. In spring and summer they hunt earthworms and insects, running and hopping across lawns and cocking their heads to listen and watch for movement before pulling prey from the soil. In autumn and winter they turn to berries and fallen fruit, and they readily visit gardens for windfall apples and food put out for them. This flexible diet is one reason they thrive so well alongside people.

## Habitat and range

The common blackbird is widespread across Europe and into parts of Asia and North Africa, and has been introduced to Australia and New Zealand. Originally a woodland bird, it has adapted superbly to gardens, parks, and hedgerows, and is now one of the most familiar birds of towns and suburbs. It forages on the ground in open, grassy areas but retreats to shrubs and trees for cover and nesting. This adaptability has made it abundant across much of its range.

## Nesting and breeding

Blackbirds build a neat cup nest of grass, twigs, and mud, usually hidden in a shrub, hedge, or climbing plant. The female incubates a clutch of blue-green, speckled eggs, and both parents feed the chicks a steady supply of worms and insects. A pair often raises two or three broods in a single season, from early spring into summer. The young leave the nest before they can fly well and are fed by the parents for a while as they find their feet.

## Lifespan and status

Life is short for most blackbirds, with the average bird living only about three to four years, largely because young birds face many hazards. Those that survive their first year can live much longer, with the oldest individuals reaching 20 years or more. The species is abundant and adaptable, and the IUCN lists it as Least Concern. Its success in gardens and parks means people encounter it more often than almost any other thrush.

## Frequently asked questions

### Why is the male blackbird black and the female brown?

Only the male has the glossy all-black plumage with an orange-yellow bill and eye-ring. The female is dark brown, often with faint mottling on the breast, which gives her better camouflage while sitting on the nest.

### What does a blackbird eat?

Blackbirds are omnivores. In spring and summer they eat mainly earthworms and insects taken from the ground, and in autumn and winter they switch to berries and fallen fruit, including windfall apples in gardens.

### Why do blackbirds sing so much?

Males sing to defend a territory and attract a mate, especially through the breeding season. Their rich, flute-like song is most intense at dawn and dusk and is considered one of the finest of any European bird.

### How long do blackbirds live?

Most blackbirds live only about three to four years on average, as young birds face many hazards. Those that survive can live far longer, with the oldest reaching 20 years or more.

### Where do blackbirds build their nests?

They build a cup-shaped nest of grass, twigs, and mud, usually well hidden in a shrub, hedge, or climbing plant. A pair often raises two or three broods between early spring and summer.

### Are blackbirds common?

Yes. The common blackbird is abundant and highly adaptable, thriving in gardens, parks, woodland, and hedgerows across Europe and beyond. The IUCN lists it as Least Concern.

## Sources

- [IUCN Red List — Turdus merula.](https://www.iucnredlist.org/search?query=Turdus%20merula&searchType=species)
- [Animal Diversity Web — Turdus merula. University of Michigan Museum of Zoology.](https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Turdus_merula/)
- [Wikipedia — Blackbird.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_blackbird)

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Source: Global Animal Guide (https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/blackbird/). Licensed CC BY-NC 4.0 — free for non-commercial reuse with attribution.