Blackbirds

[A CHAPLIN]

Can someone help me. I have several Blackbirds about at the moment and would like to know how to tell if they are females or young males, some of them are quite dark in colour. When do male Blackbirds turn black with orange bill?

From a complete novice. Now I have joined Bird Forum I no doubt will have many more queries as time goes on. Sorry if this is boring to all you experts out there.

[birdman]

I'll try to answer you, A...

(I had to look this up, by the way!)

It would seem that juveniles are paler and "warmer" coloured than females and show flecks (whereas females are uniformly brown).

Please ask as many questions as you like... it's one of the reasons BF exists. We were all complete novices once... and some of us are still learning as we go.

(Fortunately we do have a few genuine experts to guide us!)

:t:

[Elizabeth Bigg]

I'll have to look more carefully at my blackbirds now - thanks for asking the question, Ann.

[helenol]

Here is a thread I started which may be of some interest to you: http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=11266

[SimonG]

This has had me baffled for a while - although some might say that's not difficult :-O . We have a male Blackbird visit sporadically, but a female/juvenile visit's far more frequently. I've assumed as I see them sometimes sitting together in the trees that they are a pair and therefore it has to be a female?

[pauco]

Hi A.
The juv male blackbird has an overall even brown
colouring, the immature male has a black bill & orbital ring. 1st summer adults have the lovely
crocus colour bill & orbit. Females remain streaky
brown. hope this helps.
bert.