Moulting mostly occurs in late summer–autumn, with males ceasing to sing for the duration of their moult.īlackbirds mainly eat earthworms, insects, spiders, snails and slugs. Blackbirds are strong flyers and have reached all of New Zealand’s outlying island groups they are not considered migratory in New Zealand. They are strongly territorial, and may chase other species, including tui. They are often seen to ‘listen’ for food, e.g.

A song thrush has been observed to have laid its eggs in the nest of a blackbird (an example of brood parasitism) but the two song thrush young that hatched out were ejected from the nest, which was subsequently deserted.īlackbirds are commonly seen feeding on the ground in parklands, woodlands and suburban gardens, walking slowly or running short distances looking for food. Both sexes share with feeding of fledglings, which are often fed for several weeks after leaving the nest. They are well feathered 12-13 days after hatching, and fledge when about 13-15 days old. The nestlings are blind and naked when hatched. Incubation is shared by both sexes and takes 13-14 days. Three or more clutches (typically of 3-4 greenish-blue eggs) may be laid during a season especially if an earlier clutch is lost. Nests are usually well concealed by foliage in the forks of shrubs or trees 3 to 10 metres above the ground and are a well-constructed woven bowl of grass, small twigs, moss, fragments of plastic bags, dead leaves and may be lightly lined with mud (compare with song thrush nest with characteristic mud lining). Males establish territories from about April-May. They have no recognised impacts on native bird species, despite their ubiquitous distribution.īlackbirds breed as solitary, monogamous pairs nesting species, nesting between August and February, with a September – November peak in most localities. On the positive side of the ledger, blackbirds eat snails and slugs and other garden and horticultural invertebrate pests. They can also spread the seeds of weedy plants, and are often a nuisance in gardens by scattering mulch and newly planted seed beds and lawns. The main negative impact of Eurasian blackbirds is the damage they may cause to commercial fruit crops. on damp sports fields near a shrub border, they do not behave as a flock. Even where 20 or more blackbirds feed in close proximity, e.g.

They are usually seen as single birds or pairs. The blackbird was the most widely reported bird species in the 1999-2004 Atlas of Bird Distribution in New Zealand, based on the number of grid squares occupied.īlackbirds were introduced to New Zealand from 1862 on, and are now abundant throughout the country. Blackbirds are also resident on most vegetated islands including Kermadec, Stewart, Chatham, Snares, Auckland and Campbell Islands they occur as vagrants on Antipodes Island. They occur in urban areas, farmlands, orchards and in lowland indigenous forests, being most abundant in urban gardens, parklands, farms and orchards. Similar species: female and juvenile blackbirds may be confused with song thrush, but thrushes are smaller and slimmer, with creamy-white underparts (speckled with brown) from chin to undertail.īlackbirds are widespread throughout mainland New Zealand and off-shore islands from sea level up to about 1,500 m altitude, with a lower maximum altitude in the south. Other calls are given throughout the year, including a sharp quickly repeated alarm call made if a predator threatens. The song is similar to that of the song thrush, but without the repeated phrases that characterise thrush song. Voice: the loud male territorial advertising song is mainly given from July to January. Juveniles are similar to adult females, but with light mottling over the body. Adult females are mostly dark brown on their upperparts, light brown or grey on the throat, and dark brown with slight mottling on the breast and belly their bill is light brown. Males also have a yellow bill and a yellow eye-ring around their dark eye. The blackbird is larger than a song thrush and is further distinguished from it by having darker, more uniform plumage, which is entirely black in adult males. They also take berries while perched in foliage. Blackbirds feed mostly on the ground on earthworms, snails, and insects. They sing most in the early morning and evening. Their song is given from winter to summer, with the singing male usually perched on a high branch, tree top or power line. Blackbirds are common in a wide range of habitats including suburban gardens, farmland, woodlands and indigenous forests. Females and juveniles are mostly dark brown, slightly mottled on the belly. Adult males are entirely black apart from their yellow bill and eye-ring. The Eurasian blackbird was introduced to New Zealand, and is now our most widely distributed bird species.

Yellow ring around pupil called