Eurasian Blackbird Identification

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Eurasian Blackbird Photos and Videos

Adult male

Adult male is black, with a striking orange-yellow bill and eyering.

Female

Female is dark brown overall, with some rufous tones. Pale, sometimes whitish throat is finely streaked, while browner underparts have coarser smudging. Bill ranges from dark brown to yellow.

Male and chick

Adult male in breeding season is all black, with a bright yellow-orange bill and eyering. Both sexes care for the nestlings—typically 3–4 chicks in a large cup nest.

Immature male

Immature male is duller than adult male, with brownish wings and a darker bill.

Juvenile

Juvenile is similar to female, but often more rufous. Note also the buffy streaks on the upperparts.

Adult female

Female is brown overall. A white throat with brown streaking gives way to darker, spotted underparts. Blackbirds frequently feed on the ground, often in search of invertebrates, but also taking advantage of fruit when available.

Adult male

Male sings mellow, slow-paced song from treetops, rooftops, and other conspicuous perches.

Adult male

Feeds on berries and fruits (especially in the fall), as well as earthworms, insects, and other invertebrates.

Adult male

Often uses bill to flip over leaves in search of insects and other invertebrates in leaf litter.

Adult male

Common in city parks and backyard gardens.

Adult male

Often feeds on worms.

See more images of this species in Macaulay Library

Compare with Similar Species

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European Starling

Ring OuzelMale (Northern)

Ring OuzelFemale (Alpine)

Ring OuzelJuvenile (Alpine)

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Identification

Adult male distinctive: glossy black overall with bright yellow bill and eyering. Female dark brown overall; slightly paler throat and breast often have faint darker spots and streaks. Juvenile in summer brown overall with pale spots on back, spotted breast; first-year male duller black than adult, with duller yellowish bill. Can be found in wooded habitats, parks, gardens, and farmland with hedges; often feeds in fields and on lawns. Rich caroling song often heard in urban and suburban neighborhoods with trees and hedges. A native of Eurasia and North Africa, introduced to southeastern Australia, New Zealand, and a few surrounding islands.