Blackbird
Turdus merula
Did you know? Originally a woodland species, blackbirds are well suited to gardens that feature small trees and shrubs. Only the males are black. The females are brown and sometimes have spots and streaks on their breasts, while juveniles are reddish-brown with pale spotting. Albinism (lack of pigment) and leucism (weak pigment) are common, particularly partial albinism, where just the bird’s head or patches of wings, are white.
Diet: Insects and worms in spring and summer, and fruit and seeds in autumn and winter. Blackbirds mostly feed on the ground, so won’t visit hanging bird feeders. They’ll readily take mealworms from the ground, so consider leaving some out on a daily basis during the breeding season.
Lifecycle: Breeding starts in March. The female makes an untidy cup-shaped nest from grasses, twigs and mud, and can lay up to three clutches of blueish, spotted eggs each year. Insects and worms are fed to the young by both parents, and fledglings appear after about 10 days. Young males establish a territory in their first year, which they continue to hold throughout their lives.
Habitat: Blackbirds are found almost everywhere, including gardens and countryside, and from coasts to hills, although not on the highest peaks.
At risk? Although common and widespread, they declined by a third from the 1970s to mid-1990s, although populations are now increasing again.
Goldfinch
Carduelis carduelis
Victorians often kept goldfinches in cages to enjoy their colourful plumage
