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Common Blackbird

Turdus merula

Floor
6" × 8"
Interior height
6"
Mount height
3–10 ft
Breeds
Mar–Jul
Broods / yr
2–3
Cool Facts

Things you didn't know about the Common Blackbird

01

The Common Blackbird is one of the most-studied birds in Europe — males defending territory will sing more than 6 hours a day in spring.

02

Females build their nests entirely on their own; males don't help with construction.

03

Despite the name, females are a brown — not black — and pale-fronted. Many casual observers think male and female are different species.

Attract Them

How to bring the Common Blackbird to your yard

Blackbirds are common garden birds across Europe — easy to attract with the right shrubs and a moist lawn.

Food

Mealworms, suet pellets, and cut fruit (apple, pear) on tray feeders or scattered on the ground.

Cover & landscaping

Dense shrubs and hedges 1.5–3 m tall for nesting. They build a mud-and-grass cup nest deep in cover.

Water

Bird bath, especially during dry summers; regular bathers.

Box placement

An open-front shelf 2–4 m up tucked into a hedge or against a covered wall can host a pair.

Avoid

Don't disturb shrubs during nesting season (March–July); the female may abandon if disturbed early.

Range & Habitat

Where you'll find them

A common European thrush relative — found in nearly every garden across Europe and introduced to Australia and New Zealand.

By region
  • Europe

    Year-round resident throughout, from Iberia and Britain east through Russia to the Urals.

  • North Africa & Middle East

    Resident across the Mediterranean coast and into the Levant.

  • Australia & New Zealand (introduced)

    Now an established invasive in southern Australia and across New Zealand.

Habitat preferences

Hedgerows, parks, mature gardens, and woodland edges. They thrive in human-modified landscapes.

gardens ivy-covered walls hedgerows under porches
Approximate range centroids — see the regional breakdown above for the specifics
Fledge Kit

The right house for the Common Blackbird

Open-Front Series

Open Shelf — Large

No entrance hole, no front wall — just a sheltered ledge. Includes drainage and the integrated mounting tab.

See the full lineup
Seasonal Care

When to install. When to clean.

Install by
By February
Cleaning
Empty between broods; final clean September
Winter use
Yes — overnight roosts

Year-round resident across most of range. One of the earliest UK songbirds to begin breeding — eggs laid in early March in mild winters.