# Common Blackbird (*Turdus merula*) The Common Blackbird is a friendly bird with shiny black feathers and a bright yellow eye ring. They love to sing beautiful songs in gardens and parks! - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 31 - **Habitat:** Gardens, parks, and forests - **Also known as:** Blackbird, Eurasian Blackbird ![Common Blackbird](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771426729/objects/4559.jpg) ## Appearance The Common Blackbird male is entirely glossy black with a striking orange-yellow beak and eye-ring. Females are dull brown, often with a paler throat and a less vibrant beak. This distinct coloring helps tell them apart from other dark birds. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Passeriformes - **Family:** Turdidae - **Genus:** Turdus ## Interesting facts - Male blackbirds can learn to mimic the sounds of human phone rings or car alarms! - Some Common Blackbirds have been known to live for over 20 years in captivity! - Their scientific name, \*Turdus merula\*, simply means "thrush blackbird"! - They often line their nests with mud, making them super strong and cup-shaped. ## Special abilities - **Sound Mimicry:** Common Blackbird can imitate other birds' calls and even human sounds because of its flexible vocal cords. - **Ground Forager:** Common Blackbird has strong legs and a sturdy bill that helps them flip leaves and dig for worms in the soil. - **Vocal Storyteller:** Common Blackbird can sing complex, flute-like songs from high perches, marking territory and attracting mates. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 24-29 cm - **Wingspan:** 34-39 cm - **Weight:** 0.08-0.125 kg - **Lifespan:** 2-5 years - **Speed:** 45 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 3-6 - **Incubation:** 11-14 days ## Diet & Feeding They are omnivores, eating both wriggly invertebrates from the ground and delicious fruits and berries. - **Primary Foods:** Earthworms, Insects, Snails, Berries, Fallen fruit - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Domestic Cat](https://www.snappit.app/explore/domestic-cat) (*Felis catus*) — A common predator, especially in urban areas. - **Eaten by:** [Eurasian Sparrowhawk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eurasian-sparrowhawk) (*Accipiter nisus*) — A swift bird of prey that hunts small birds. - **Eats:** Common Earthworm (*Lumbricus terrestris*) — A primary food source, often pulled from damp soil. - **Eats:** Common Bramble (*Rubus fruticosus*) — Feeds on the fruits, spreading seeds. ## Traits - [Wildlife](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wildlife): Wildlife encompasses all undomesticated animal and plant life existing in their natural habitats. - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Omnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/omnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet includes both plant and animal matter. - [Singing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/singing): Singing animals produce complex vocalizations, often for purposes of attracting mates, defending territory, or communicating within their species. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Nocturnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nocturnal): Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Blackbirds are gentle and safe to watch from a distance. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Common Blackbird? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Common Blackbird? 24-29 cm ### What is Common Blackbird's wingspan? 34-39 cm ### How much does Common Blackbird weigh? 0.08-0.125 kg ### How long does Common Blackbird live? 2-5 years ### How fast can Common Blackbird move? 45 km/h ### What does Common Blackbird eat? They are omnivores, eating both wriggly invertebrates from the ground and delicious fruits and berries. ### Where is Common Blackbird usually found? Gardens, parks, and forests ## Where to spot - [Colchester Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/colchester-zoo) — England, GB · Zoo - [Fota Wildlife Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/fota-wildlife-park) — Municipal District of Cobh, IE · Zoo - [Zoo Dortmund](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/zoo-dortmund) — North Rhine-Westphalia, DE · Zoo - [Bioparc Valencia](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bioparc-valencia) — Valencian Community, ES · Zoo - [Birmingham Wildlife Conservation Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/birmingham-wildlife-conservation-park) — England, GB · Zoo - [Tierpark Hellabrunn](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/tierpark-hellabrunn) — Bavaria, DE · Zoo [View all places to see Common Blackbird](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/common-blackbird) ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [Common Blackbird: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-blackbird)