# Common Blackbird

*Turdus merula*

Male blackbirds are famous for their beautiful, complex songs, which they often perform from high perches at dawn and dusk.

- **Taxonomy:** Animalia › Chordata › Aves › Passeriformes › Turdidae › Turdus
- **IUCN Red List status:** Not Evaluated
- **Population trend:** stable
- **Biome:** urban
- **Habitat:** Woodlands, gardens, parks, and scrubland.
- **Diet:** Omnivorous, primarily feeding on insects, earthworms, berries, and fruits.
- **Range:** Europe, North Africa, Western Asia, Australia, New Zealand
- **Size:** 23-29 cm
- **Lifespan:** 2-4 years
- **Active:** diurnal
- **Threats:** Predation by domestic cats, habitat loss, and exposure to pesticides.
- **Safe to approach?:** Harmless to humans. If you find an injured bird, place it in a dark, ventilated box in a quiet area to reduce stress and contact a local wildlife rehabilitator immediately. Do not attempt to provide food or water unless instructed by a professional.

## Sources

- Plate: https://gaia-dex.com/species/7c96fd59-f260-4729-9931-e121319b4d2f
- iNaturalist: https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/12716

- Conservation status: IUCN Red List category, as recorded by Gaia-Dex
- Photo: https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/356885346/medium.jpg (Luiz Lapa, CC-BY, via iNaturalist)

Habitat, diet, size and similar notes are AI-written summaries; check them against the linked sources before relying on them.