Keep your eyes open for ripe blackberries in the woods and hedgerows - record your sightings
blackbird
Turdus merula
- Males have black plumage and a bright yellow beak
- Females have brown plumage, a mottled breast and a brownish beak
- Flight is usually low and over short distances and often accompanied by a harsh chattering alarm call
- A beautiful mellow song - click on the recording below to listen:

Where found
Almost anywhere except the most barren uplands. Thrives in gardens and parks. You’re as likely to find them nesting in a city centre as on a farm. Nests in trees and bushes.
When to look for
- Nest building from February
- Produces 2 or 3 broods between March and May
Did you know?
- Blackbirds are residents, so can be seen at any time
- They are monogamous, and established pairs will stay together for as long as they both survive
- The blackbird is the national bird of Sweden, which has a breeding population of 1–2 million pairs
- 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 name blackbird is first recorded as applied to the species Turdus merula in 1486