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Common Blackbird

Did you know?

The Common Blackbird is one of two introduced 'true thrushes' in Australia; the other is the Song Thrush,T. philomelos. The indigenous thrushes are the Bassian, Zoothera lunulata, and the Russet-tailed Thrush, Z. heinei.

Calls
A repeated 'tchook' call and a melodious, warbling song.
Facts and Figures
Research Species: 
No
Minimum Size: 
25cm
Maximum Size: 
28cm
Average size: 
27cm
Average weight: 
89g
Breeding season: 
September to January
Clutch Size: 
3 to 5, usually 4
Incubation: 
14 days
Nestling Period: 
14 days
Conservation Status
Federal: 
Introduced
NSW: 
Introduced
NT: 
Introduced
QLD: 
Introduced
SA: 
Introduced
TAS: 
Introduced
VIC: 
Introduced
WA: 
Introduced
Basic Information
Scientific Name: 
Turdus merula
Featured bird groups: 
Birds behaving badly
Top 40 Bird Songs
Introduced birds
Atlas Number: 
991
What does it look like?
Description: 

The Common Blackbird was introduced to Australia at Melbourne in the 1850s. The male is the 'black' bird, with deep orange to yellow bill, a narrow yellow eye-ring and dark legs. The female is a brown bird, with some streaks or mottling, and has a dark bill and legs. Immature birds are similar to the female with lighter underparts.

Similar species: 

The Common Blackbird is not readily confused with other 'black' birds as it is much smaller than most Australian birds with a similar colouring and has a distinctive yellow eye-ring.

Where does it live?
Distribution: 

The Common Blackbird, was originally confined to Melbourne and Adelaide, but has gradually expanded its range throughout south-eastern Australia, both on the coast and inland, as far north as Sydney, and including Tasmania and the Bass Strait islands.

Habitat: 

The Common Blackbird is most often found in urban areas and surrounding localities, but has successfully moved into bushland habitats. It is often seen in orchards, vineyards and gardens, as well as along roadsides and in parks.

What does it do?
Feeding: 

The Common Blackbird eats insects, earthworms, snails, spiders and a range of seeds and fruit. It mainly forages on the ground, probing and scratching at leaf litter, lawns and soil.

Breeding: 

The Common Blackbird builds a cup-shaped nest of dried grass, bound with mud, and lined with fine grasses. It is usually placed in a tree, shrub or low bush, but they will also use tree hollows.

Living with us

The Common Blackbird can be a pest in orchards, parks and gardens, being rather destructive of ground vegetation, particularly backyard vegetable patches.

References: 
Field guide to Australian Birds.
Reader's Digest Complete Book of Australian Birds
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