Photo: Tony Wills / CC BY 2.5 (Wikimedia Commons)
Common Blackbird
Turdus merula
Common Blackbird (Turdus merula) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Europe & Northern Asia.
Found across 14 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Common Blackbird (Turdus merula) is a member of the Turdidae family found in Europe & Northern Asia and South & Southeast Asia. Adults weigh 103 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Turdidae Thrushes
- Genus Turdus
- Species merula
Quick facts
- Weight
- 103 g
- Diet
- Omnivores
- Family
- Turdidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Common Blackbird is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open forest, it uses a wide range of foraging strategies.
Migration
The Common Blackbird is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Common Blackbird (Turdus merula) belongs to the Turdidae family of the order Passeriformes. Its range spans Europe & Northern Asia and South & Southeast Asia. Its distribution covers PAL, OR widespread.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 103 g, with a wing length of about 12.8 cm and a tail of around 10.6 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 10.6 million km² — a very large global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Common Blackbird?
The Common Blackbird is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 103 g.
Where does the Common Blackbird live?
The Common Blackbird is found across Europe & Northern Asia and South & Southeast Asia with a range covering PAL, OR widespread, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Common Blackbird belong to?
The Common Blackbird (Turdus merula) belongs to the Turdidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Common Blackbird eat?
The Common Blackbird is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Does the Common Blackbird migrate?
The Common Blackbird is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Common Blackbird endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Common Blackbird make?
1 real field recording of the Common Blackbird — including its alarm call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Common Blackbird's range?
The Common Blackbird has a mapped global range of about 10.6 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
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