The blackbird or merle (Turdus merula) is a British bird of the thrush family common in Britain and throughout Europe. It is larger than the common thrush, its length being about 25 cm. The male has black plumage and a yellow bill. The female is dark brown with a dark bill. The nest is usually in a thick bush, and is built of grass, roots, twigs, etc, strengthened with clay. The eggs, generally four or five in number, are of a greenish-blue, spotted with various shades of brown. The song is rich, mellow, and Mute-like, but of no great variety or compass.
Its food is insects, worms, snails, fruits, etc, and blackbirds may often be seen huntingworms across garden lawns which they do by attracting the worms to the surface by stamping their feet in imitation of rain fall, listening with their head cocked to one side, and then yanking the worm from the ground with their beak when it emerges.
The blackbird was formerly known as the 'Ouzel' or 'Ousel', 'missel thrush', 'mistletoe thrush', 'Holm Thrush', 'Holm Screech' and 'storm cock' in various parts of England, Scotland and Wales.
The blackbirds or crow-blackbirds of America are quite different from the European blackbird, and are more nearly allied to the starlings and crows.
The red-winged blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus}, belonging to the starling family, is a familiar American bird that congregates in great flocks. Research Blackbird
Abbreviations
Nature
Research Blackbird