Black blackbird

The black blackbird or simply blackbird ( Turdus merula ) is a European member of the family of the muscicapidés .

It is very common in the wood and the gardens of all the Europe and most of the Asia, in lower part of the Arctic Circle. The populations generally sedentary, are put aside the birds living in north, which migrate towards the south in winter. In France, manpower of blackbirds are estimated at several tens of million couples.

The black blackbirds are omnivorous, nourishing insects, of worms and bays. They nidifient in the bushes or the shrubs. The female lays several eggs blue-green-gray (usually 4), with brown or red marks, in pretty a Nid in the shape of cup. The adult blackbirds weigh on average from 85 to 115 G and measure 25 cm.

The blackbirds do not live groups some, although several birds can more or less cohabit in a suitable habitat apart from the period of reproduction. On the other hand, during this period, the blackbirds do not support any congeneric on their territory (which vary from 0,2 to 0,5 ha in forest, and from 0,1 to 0,3 ha downtown), apart from their partner.

The adult males completely black, are put aside a yellow nozzle as well as a yellow circle around the eyes. The female has a brown plumage, of which tons them vary from one individual to another, and does not have the nozzle and the orbital ring yellow brilliance of the male. As for youthful, they have a moucheté brown plumage of white which lasts to their first moult, between August and October. The nozzle of the young males reaches its yellow color only after one year complete.

As of the end of the winter, and until the beginning of the summer, the male blackbird whistles songs varied and mélodieux since the top of the trees, the roof of the houses or any other perch dominating the surroundings. The blackbird can sing at any hour of the day but to raise it and lay down it sun are the moments when the songs resound in a more intense way. The song of the black blackbird is regarded as one of the most beautiful songs of birds of Europe. The richness of the repertory, the variations melody and its capacities of improvisation distinguish the blackbird from the majority of the other birds.

The life expectancy of a blackbird is usually around 3 or 4 years. Certain individuals however reached records of longevity of about fifteen years. The blackbird has the many predatory ones, in particular the sparrowhawk of Europe. Some other birds, like the Pie S and the crows, but also of other animals, like the Fouine S, the Hermine S and the Chat S, are accustomed to plundering the nests of blackbirds, which can limit their population. In the south of France, the blackbird pays also its tribute with hunting for the Grive, because in an official way, no distinction is made between blackbirds and thrushes.

The black blackbird was introduced into many parts of the world apart from her original surface. For example, in Australia and New Zealand, descendants of imported blackbirds of Great Britain are.

The varieties white and albino are regarded as domestic.

External bonds

Photographs of blackbirds

Nds-nl: Gietelink Simple: Blackbird

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