Strange Blackbird behaviour (1 Viewer)

wilmauk · Jul 21, 2005

I've got a juvenile Blackbird that has started visiting my garden recently (must like the sultanas I'm leaving her). Today I was putting out my washing and she landed not 4ft from me, and carried on feeding...not bothered by my presence at all. Anyway, I crouched down to get a better look at her, at which point she stopped and looked my way. She then puffed herself right up (reminded me of a balloon) then stretched out her wings and lay forward on the ground. It was most bizarre. After about a minute she got up, 'deflated' back to normal size and carried on feeding. Anyone know what she was doing....it's the first time I've seen anything like this.

Terry O'Nolley · Jul 23, 2005

wilmauk said:
I've got a juvenile Blackbird that has started visiting my garden recently (must like the sultanas I'm leaving her). Today I was putting out my washing and she landed not 4ft from me, and carried on feeding...not bothered by my presence at all. Anyway, I crouched down to get a better look at her, at which point she stopped and looked my way. She then puffed herself right up (reminded me of a balloon) then stretched out her wings and lay forward on the ground. It was most bizarre. After about a minute she got up, 'deflated' back to normal size and carried on feeding. Anyone know what she was doing....it's the first time I've seen anything like this.

Aggressive posturing behaviour - being a juvenile it probably hasn't quite figured out exactly when to employ those tactics

Maybe when you were upright, it just considered you part of the scenery but when you dropped down you entered its "zone" and it considered you a threat.

Richie9 · Jul 23, 2005

Hi Wilmauk,

Could she have been sunbathing?

We have quite a few blackies around at the moment and this is common behaviour amongst them.

Mary Evelyn · Jul 23, 2005

When our birds do it they are usually sunbathing or simply stretching their wings.
They do come close Wilmauk, even adult Blackbirds and follow us around the garden when we are doing the borders, looking for worms.When they do get mad, they usually repeat their warning call and cock and flick their tailfeathers.
They love sultannas, although in the breeding season when the young are being fed they should be soaked overnight.

wilmauk · Jul 23, 2005

Thanks for the replies everyone. She was back again today, but seemed happy just pottering around the garden, no funny stuff today. I thought that she might have been sunbathing, but it wasn't really that sunny the other day.

Mary E...don't worry, I always soak my sultanas before putting them out for the birds.

Mary Evelyn · Jul 23, 2005

wilmauk said:
Mary E...don't worry, I always soak my sultanas before putting them out for the birds.

Oops :flowers: As soaking hadn't been mentioned Wilmauk,I was only pointing it out for those who didn't know. :eat: I wasn't worried at all about you,just passing on good advice. :eek!: :flowers:

Talon 1 · Jul 24, 2005

Mary ios right , i think Blackbirds are even more bold than Robins with humans.

My favourite with them is Cherries, they really love em! If you put them on a skewer its amusing to watch them also takes for some great shots

Strange Blackbird behaviour (1 Viewer)

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