gb supp 2018 (1)

Size 24 cm; Wingspan 36 cm; Weight 100 g
Food: Invertebrates, especially
Clutch size: 3–4 eggs
Incubation: 13–14 days
Young fledge: 12–15 days
O
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A
D J
N F
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population now found in urban and suburban habitats. Garden
BirdWatch data show that Blackbirds use gardens seasona ly, with
wider countryside. The rest of the year their diet mainly consists
of insects and earthworms but they have also been known to eat
newts and fish from ponds.
Blackbirds build their untidy cup nests most often in trees and
bushes but wi l also use a variety of other situations including
ledges, log piles and even open-fronted nest boxes. Nests
towns and vi lages are more productive than those in woodland
and appear to begin their breeding season somewhat earlier. It is
with other thrush species, such as Redwing and Fieldfare.
FP_BIRDSPA4_BirdWatchiid3413147.pdf 16.03.2018 17:01
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Garden Birds
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154 BTO Garden Birds
Blackbird, by John Harding
Blackbird
Turdus merula
One of our most familiar birds, the Blackbird is a species that has adapted particularly we l to the garden
enviroment. Part of this success stems from the fact that the Blackbird is a bird of woodland edges, a
habitat which our gardens resemble in many of their key features – such as scattered trees and bushes,
and areas of lawn.
Spotlight
Green-listed
A garden success
Origina ly a woodland bird, from the 19 th century Blackbirds
shifted into gardens and farmland, with a large proportion of their
earthworms. Fruit taken in autumn
and winter.
a marked reduction in numbers in autumn due to secrecy during
their moult, and then the search for autumn fruit and seeds in the
Breeding behaviour
Breeds: March to July
are usua ly positioned within some cover to reduce the risk of
predation and the impact of adverse weather. Birds nesting in
Blackbird nest and eggs, by Herbert & Howe ls
Number of broods: 2–3 per year
Population: 4.9 mi lion pairs
Max lifespan: 14 years, 9 months
Typical lifespan: 3 years
Garden reporting rate: 98%
thought that the increased productivity in urban areas is due to
the lower rate of nest predation in gardens (50%) compared to
woodland (80%). They will have two to three broods a year to
increase their overa l breeding output.
Both sexes are territorial during the breeding season. They
usually defend their territory through display and calls, but
occasiona ly short, violent fights wi l occur. Birds from different
pairs may be seen together in feeding areas outside breeding
territories but even here there can be some degree of tension
between individuals. In the winter, however, Blackbirds are more
gregarious, often feeding together in sma l flocks and associating
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