| Actual Image
Eurasian Blackbird (30)
milloup
![Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 483 W: 41 N: 618]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-s-g.gif) (1706) | Turdus merula, Eurasian or Common Blackbird. I came across this noisy fellow just outside my door when heading home one afternoon. It was making quite a lot of to-do, jumping about and making loads of noise (in fact, I'm surprised it has its bill closed in this photo, I must have used a faster shutter than I thought ;-))
The all-black male with his bright yellow bill and eye ring is unmistakable and recogniseable, even at a distance, by the way it moves and especially by the way it raises is tail on landing. First year males have more brown in plumage and brownish bill.The female is distinctively dark brown all over with only obscure streaking on the breast. Approximately 10 inches (25cm) long. Breeds and winters in woods, farmland, gardens, wasteground and hedges. The nest which nowadays may be located almost anywhere, is made of twigs leaves and moss bound with saliva and the well is lined with fine dry blades of grass and leaves and sometimes with feathers. The blackbird nests two or three times a year with the first clutch appearing around March or April with four to six eggs. The female incubates the eggs for 12-14 days, occasionally relieved by the male. The young are fed by both parents for the two weeks they are in the nest and for a further two weeks after they are fledged. Recorded diet is mainly insects, earthworms and a wide variety of fruits both wild and cultivated. An abundant resident throughout Denmark all year round.
I'm not sure whether this one is male or female, I think it's a youngster from this year on account of the brown inner part of the bill and the white flecks on the feathers under the chin and on the upper breast.
Treatment: Crop, saturation +10, USM and resize. |
|
