Blackbird, blackbirds or black bird may refer to:
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BLACKBIRD (Turdus merula), the name commonly given to a well-known British bird of the Turdidae family, for which the ancient name was ousel, Anglo-Saxon Osle, equivalent of the German Amsel, a form of the word found in several old English books. The plumage of the male is of a uniform black colour, that of the female various shades of brown, while the bill of the male, especially during the breeding season, is of a bright gamboge yellow. The blackbird is of a shy and restless disposition, courting concealment, and rarely seen in flocks, or otherwise than singly or in pairs, and taking flight when startled with a sharp shrill cry. It builds its nest in March, or early in April, in thick bushes or in ivy-clad trees, and usually rears at least two broods each season. The nest is a neat structure of coarse grass and moss, mixed with earth, and plastered internally with mud, and here the female lays from four to six eggs of a blue colour speckled with brown. The blackbird feeds chiefly on fruits, worms, the larvae of insects and snails, extracting the last from their shells by dexterously chipping them on stones; and though it is generally regarded as an enemy of the garden, it is probable that the amount of damage by it to the fruit is largely compensated for by its undoubted services as a vermin-killer. The notes of the blackbird are rich and full, but monotonous as compared with those of the song-thrush. Like many other singing birds it is, in the wild state, a mocking-bird, having been heard to imitate the song of the nightingale, the crowing of a cock, and even the cackling of a hen. In confinement it can be taught to whistle a variety of tunes, and even to imitate the human voice.
The blackbird is found in every country of Europe, even breeding - although rarely - beyond the arctic circle, and in eastern Asia as well as in North Africa and the Atlantic islands. In most parts of its range it is migratory, and in Britain every autumn its numbers receive considerable accession from passing visitors. Allied species inhabit most parts of the world, excepting Africa south of the Sahara, New Zealand and Australia proper, and North America. In some of these the legs as well as the bill are yellow or orange; and in a few both sexes are glossy black. The ring-ousel, Turdus torquatus, has a dark bill and conspicuous white gorget, whence its name. It is rarer and more local than the common blackbird, and occurs in England only as a temporary spring and autumn visitor.
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| Turdus merula Linnaeus, 1758 | |||||||||||||||
| File:Turdus merula Approximate distribution shown in grey
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A Blackbird (or Common Blackbird)is a member of the passerine songbird family Turdidae, the thrushes. Its scientific name is Turdus merula, and there are a number of geographical subspecies. It is native to Europe and parts of Asia. It is a terrific singer.
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The adult male is black, with a yellow/orange bill (beak). Juveniles and females are brown, and less easy to see. Blackbirds are easy to find in gardens all over Europe and in Asia, South of the Arctic Circle. On average, Blackbirds live to be 2.4 years old, but some have been found to be 20 years old.[2]
frr:Kramper
pcd:Ermèle
   | BBC Blackbird page - BBC - Science & Nature - Wildfacts - Blackbird |
| | Blackbird videos - the Internet Bird Collection |
| | images and movies of the blackbird ''(Turdus merula)'' - Blackbird - Turdus merula - ARKive |
| | Birds of Britain Blackbird page - Blackbird, Turdus merula |
| | RSPB Blackbird page - The RSPB: Blackbird |
| | Madeira Birds - Blackbird (Turdus merula cabrerae) | Madeira Birdwatching by Madeira Wind Birds |
| | British garden birds - lifespan - British Garden Birds - Life Expectancy |
| | ''Sing a Song of Sixpence'' - Sing a song of sixpence rhyme (blackbirds baked in a pie) |
| | ''Blackbird'' - Paul McCartney | Blackbird lyrics |
| | ''A Blackbird Singing'' - A Blackbird Singing by Ronald Stuart Thomas |
| | Blackbird - ''Turdus merula'' - Blackbird - Turdus merula - Natural England |
| | Bird stamps from Sweden - Birds on stamps: Sweden Zweden Suède Suecia |
| | The A.O.U. Check-list of North American Birds, Seventh Edition - AOU - Check-list of North American Birds |
| | European Longevity Records - Euring Databank Longevity Records |
| | Threats - The RSPB: Blackbird: Threats |
| | RSPB - Blackbird, including video and sound clips - The RSPB: Blackbird |
| | Birds of Britain - Blackbird - Blackbird, Turdus merula |
| | Blackbird ''Turdus merula'' [Linnaeus, 1758] - BTO BirdFacts - Blackbird |
| | Extrapair paternity and the evolution of bird song - Extrapair paternity and the evolution of bird song -- Garamszegi and Møller 15 (3): 508 -- Behavioral Ecology |
| | All About Birds: Great-tailed Grackle - Bronzed Cowbird, Life History, All About Birds - Cornell Lab of Ornithology |
| | All About Birds: Great-tailed Grackle - Great-tailed Grackle, Identification, All About Birds - Cornell Lab of Ornithology |
| | Black Bird Rock Festival, calcutta, india - ....: Rock Festival Calcutta ........ Register Now Register Now >>>>> Blackbird Rock Festival :.... |
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