Singing Blackbird

Male Blackbird pictures

In this blog you will find a series of pictures of a male Blackbird, singing his heart out while perched high in a tree that was heavy with blossom. When I spotted him, he was beautifully outlined against the sky and I'm pretty sure he knew I was listening and he put on a fine show just for me.  I'm only sorry I didn't have video capacity.

I've created a little sequence to share in this magical capture and listen to a blackbird's song in the video below. Blackbirds are wonderful singers and they fill the air in British gardens and countryside throughout the Spring. They can also be quite good mimics so you can sometimes catch them copying other bird song or even a ringing telephone.


Image: Blackbird singing in a blossom tree by AnnMackieMiller: copyright 2011

The thing about blackbirds, is that they continue to learn and develop their birdsong throughout their lives. So elder blackbirds have a more complicated song than youngsters.

The other fascinating thing is you can sometime hear them sort of 'muttering' their song under their breath which begs the question - are they practicing before they launch their song on the world? 

A Blackbird Song Click the link to listen while you view. 

Walking along the canal path one day in the Spring I heard a blackbird singing and spotted him sitting pretty among the blossom.

 In Scotland we have a saying "gei-ing it laldy" which means singing out with great enthusiasm - here you have a male blackbird gei-ing it laldy. You can even see his little tongue!

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• Blackbird facts

Family: Turdidae
Species: Turdus merula
Common name: Blackbird

• Blackbird habitat

Woodland bird
Garden bird
Common throughout Britain

• Blackbird breeding facts

Breeds early spring
Nest - cup-shaped bowl
Eggs - 3-5 light blue
Brooding - female only for 11-17 days
Both adults feed chicks
Chick leave the nest - 12-19 days

• Food for Blackbirds

feeds on the ground
loves worms!
any invertebrates
been known to eat small fish and newts
berries in winter