There is nothing as nice as the sound of a singing Blackbird (Turdus merula).  Probably one of the UK's most well known birds and loved by all. At this time of the year the sound of their evocative singing is something that I always enjoy and it's a sure sign that spring is here.  Females don't sing and are brown, not black and as well, they also have some subtle  spots on the throat and breast.  They often breed in gardens and sometimes in very obvious exposed places, once in my school corridor and 300 kids walked past constantly and yet the young still fledged.  One of the real threats to them in the garden is the domestic cat.  I hate to find the remains of them in my garden (I don't own a cat by the way), and quite often neighbours bring me injured Blackbirds that they have rescued from their cat….. they always die.

Female Blackbird showing "thrush-like" markings on the chest,  Thrush-like because they are in fact members of the Thrush family as is the American Robin incidentally.