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Over the years blackbirds have become more of winter birds in Estonia; we see them in the garden more often than the beautiful bullfinches.

 

In gardens where passerines are fed blackbirds move in too. Mostly there are a couple of them or a single bird; they are not very sociable birds even in other seasons. Our blackbird makes itself heard in Arne’s garden already in the morning twilight and comes to pick at the sunflower seeds several times a day. This male bird shovels seeds over the bowl edge; blackbirds prefer rather to feed on the ground than on an uncomfortable perch. With the smaller passerines they are very polite at the food ”table”. In gardens blackbirds peck with gusto at apples left on trees, and near humans the all-eaters can find all kinds of eatables.

 

A black bird with golden yellow beak is male, the female has modestly brown plumage, a speckled chest and brown beak. The tail is long and on the ground blackbirds move by jumps or when needed at a fast run. On stopping the tail is raised, wings a little dragging. When threatened they take flight with great clamour but the flight is low and does not go far.

 

Adult birds stay for winter and they may be up to ten thousand. The winter garden bird count - that all can take part in - will bring clarity about the numbers. We will let you know when the event takes place.

 

The blackbird is a quite big bird, length including tail is twenty-five centimetres, wing span is ten centimetres longer than the body length. The weight is about a hundred grams.