The weather here today in Devon is abysmal, constantly pouring with rain and dark and dreary light. Impossible to take any proper photographs whatsoever and the birds were keeping a very low profile anyway. At around 5 o’clock the cock Blackbird took up his position to sing his territorial song. There was hardly any light whatsoever and I got a few shots with extreme camera settings just to see what I could come up with. As he sang he was answered by another Blackbird near by which was interesting. He would stop to allow his rival to deliver his phrase and then reply when it was his turn. He also opened his beak very wide from time to time to produce a very high note which was almost impossible to hear because of the high frequency. If you have a look on the RSPB site here you can listen to a quick snatch of song which finishes with this high pitched sound. Most English people think of the Blackbird as there own without realising what a widespread species the Blackbird is all over Europe and north Africa. They have also been introduced to Australia and new Zealand where they are considered a pest species. As mentioned before our resident hen has a white feather on the wing, see a photo of this hen on this post here
Blackbirds have always been a big part of my surroundings and 40 years ago the Song Thrush- Turdus turdus was just as common in the garden. Turdus turdus means “thrush a thrush”, you could say the definitive thrush, Turdus merula means “black thrush”. In central America there is a common species of Thrush the Clay Coloured Robin-Turdus grayi. I mention this because of their similarity to our own blackbird. Both sexes being brown though, just like the Blackbird. I have seen them in Belize and Mexico and they are in fact the National bird of Costa Rica. Even though the climates in which they live is so very different, they fed in the same way, hopping around on the grass and turning leaves over looking for a morsel.
Blackbirds will from time to time nest in odd places. As a schoolboy we had one nest in a patio area in the middle of our school corridor. It was passed constantly by 500 boys but sat and successfully reared its clutch.