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In a band along the north-western coast of Estonia, tens of kilometres wide,  large flocks of blackbirds busily feed on berries in the shrubs and bushes. These are migrating birds. They feed on berries and seeds, and insects , worms, slugs and snails hidden in the fallen leaves. In October and November the passing migrants are quite numerous. Up to ten thousand birds may stay to winter in Estonia.

 

The plumage of the male birds is jet black and not glossy, the beak is yellow and so are the rings around the eyes. The female birds have a dark brown plumage, flecked on the throat and breast (very similar to the song thrush), the beak of adult birds turns yellow. Young birds are brown too, but even more mottled.