Common Blackbird
Common Blackbird
An adult male, nominate race
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum:
Chordata
Class:
Aves
Order:
Passeriformes
Family:
Turdidae
Genus:
Turdus
Species:
T. merula
Binomial name
Turdus merula
Linnaeus, 1758
Approximate distribution shown in red
The Common Blackbird (Turdus merula),
also called Eurasian Blackbird (often used
in North America to distinguish it from unre-
lated native blackbird species), or (in areas
where it is the only blackbird-like species)
simply Blackbird is a species of true thrush
which breeds in Europe, Asia, and North
Africa, and has been introduced to Australia
and New Zealand. It has a number of subspe-
cies across its large range; a few of the Asian
subspecies are sometimes considered as full
species. Depending on latitude, the Common
Blackbird may be resident, partially migrat-
ory or fully migratory.[2]
The male of the nominate subspecies,
which is found throughout most of Europe, is
all black except for a yellow eye-ring and bill
and has a wide range of vocalisations; the
adult female and juvenile have mainly brown
plumage. This species breeds in woods and
gardens, building a neat, mud-lined, cup-
shaped nest. It is omnivorous, eating a wide
range of insects, earthworms, berries, and
fruits.
Both sexes are territorial on the breeding
grounds, with distinctive threat displays, but
are more gregarious during migration and in
wintering areas. Pairs will stay in their territ-
ory throughout the year where the climate is
sufficiently temperate. This common species
has given rise to a number of literary and cul-
tural references, frequently related to its me-
lodious song.
Taxonomy and name
The Common Blackbird was described by Lin-
naeus in his Systema Naturae in 1758 as
Turdus merula (characterised as T. ater,
rostro palpebrisque fulvis).[3] The binomial
name derives from two Latin words, turdus,
"thrush", and merula, "blackbird", the latter
giving rise to the French name for this spe-
cies, merle[