Blackbird, sex/age ?. Kiruna, N. Sweden today. (3 Viewers)

[tarzzz]

Hello again !

Is this a female or a 2 cy male ?

Thanks.

\surfan

 

[Richard Dale]

Hi Tarzzz, male blackbirds, following the post-juvenile moult, are black, so this is a female. We can't see enough of the wing or precise shape of the tail feathers to age it with confidence.

 

[Alexander Stöhr]

Hello Surfan,

I just wrote this, but the answer from an experienced member is there. Thanks Richard, thats what I hoped for!

like you I hope for experienced members to comment, but with such a brown "female like" plumage it surely has to be a female (?)

Sometimes I can detect the retained juvenile greater coverts in late autumn/winter Blackbirds in the field (more often=easier (?) in males than in females, yes thats my experience), but those 1st winter males look like males.

https://ringersdigiguide.ottenby.se/species/turdus-merula/sexing/

http://blascozumeta.com/specie_files/11870_Turdus_merula_E.pdf

 

[tarzzz]

Thank you both !