Blackbird legs (1 Viewer)

Hello,

The blackbirds around here in Gothenburg all have blackish legs, except the females that are lighter greyish.

But in a bird book about birds in Thailand, I found that the Common Blackbird (Turdus merula) was supposed to have yellow legs.

That must be a mistake by the artist?!

Or are this variant also seen in Sweden?!

Hi Tord

I can find no references to the Common Blackbird having yellow legs, anywhere. However, Indian Blackbird Turdus simillimus does have, and used to be considered a subspecies of Turdus merula.

Also the Grey-winged Blackbird, Turdus boulboul which does occur in Thailand, appears to have yellow legs as a juvenile. I'm not sure if there was a past relationship between them and our Common Blackbird.

Maybe others can dig deeper for you.