Name

Turdus merula

Common blackbird

Framing

Phylum: Chordata

Subphylum: Vertebrata

Class: Aves

Order: Passeriformes

Genus: Turdus

Species: merula

Habitat

Terrestrial. In all types of wooded or high shrub areas, including gardens and parks in urban areas.

Feeding

Predator of invertebrates (mainly earthworms and insects), although it is mainly frugivorous in autumn and winter.

Distribution

Palaearctic, mainly in the western region. Introduced to several islands in Oceania.

Conservation status

Not threatened

Additional information

Medium-sized passerine (25 cm) unmistakable due to its black (males) or very dark brown (females) overall colouring, long tail (unlike starlings, which are black but have very short tails) and yellow-orange bill and eye-ring in males. Long, strong bill. Summer visitor in the northern third of the distribution area and sedentary in the rest of the range.