Blackbird singing in December. (1 Viewer)

[John Tindale]

We have had a Blackbird singing in our street at dawn and dusk since the 8th of December. He's out there now singing full volume as I type.

In over 40 years of birding I've never heard one this early. Anyone else experienced something similar?

 

[KenM]

Have heard them singing about now in Central London a few years ago, mild weather may well precipitate song at this time.

Cheers

 

[Nutcracker]

Very rare, but have heard it once or twice, always in urban areas with high 'heat island' effects.

Common for Song & Mistle Thrushes.

 

[mummymonkey]

There was a juvenile in my friend's garden last week

 

[aeshna5]

One singing down my road a couple of times this week at dusk. Generally far fewer of these birds around London in recent weeks, though I saw 11 this afternoon in the country park down the road & everyone a male!

I gather usutu virus was found for the first time this summer in London, a mosquito born virus that hit birds in the Netherlands a couple of years ago.

 

[MJB]

We have had a Blackbird singing in our street at dawn and dusk since the 8th of December. He's out there now singing full volume as I type.

In over 40 years of birding I've never heard one this early. Anyone else experienced something similar?

I have heard Blackbirds in full song on occasion at this time of year, but far more common is to encounter males subvocalising their repertoire; it's a little disorienting, because it appears to be a distant bird, but when you move, the singer appears to move very fast as you pass the perched individual! A few of those singing loudly may go on to attempt to breed, possibly sometimes successfully, because on one bird survey for the Norfolk Atlas in a quadrat of Holkham Hall Park, I recorded in the southeast section, about 20 metres from the B1105-Wells Road junction (inside the Park wall) a male Blackbird carrying food in early February during a winter visit!
MJB

 

[Farnboro John]

Blackbirds have bred in shop Christmas tree displays on the outside of the building and our local ones are giving it large at the moment.

In recent years its become a lot more widespread with warm winters.

John

 

[Leviticus Plews]

Blackbirds sing in the dead of night, I thought.

Seriously though, I'm assuming you all are in Europe, or at least not in North America, as we have several Blackbird species here. Is there only one species in Europe? Is there another name?

 

[mummymonkey]

Blackbirds sing in the dead of night, I thought.

Seriously though, I'm assuming you all are in Europe, or at least not in North America, as we have several Blackbird species here. Is there only one species in Europe? Is there another name?

I think you were only waiting for this moment?
But yes, Turdus merula is the "blackbird" of Europe, baked in pies or otherwise.