Blackbird, Co. Armagh, NI (1 Viewer)

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Clarke Robinson

Well-known member

• Aug 6, 2007

• #1

Hi Everyone

I'm home for a few days in Northern Ireland and having some fun taking the local garden birds (in between lots of rain showers). This morning I took a few shots of this blackbird with an unusual head. Seems to me like a young bird, and possibly it's head is last to develop? Is this normal?

TIA for any info.

 

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timwootton

Well-known member

• Aug 6, 2007

• #2

Quite right - a young male. Nice pic.

 

KnockerNorton

Well-known member

• Aug 6, 2007

• #3

Yup, it's a juvenile blackbird that is moulting into first-winter male plumage (note the wings are brownish, a feature of first-winter males). Passerines moult the head last, so you got it spot on - the head is the last thing to moult.

 

C

Clarke Robinson

Well-known member

• Aug 6, 2007

• #4

Many thanks for the confirmation folks, always appreciated