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Common Blackbird - male - security checkup, Heesch, Netherlands For the last several weeks, this scene happens about once every 3 minutes. This blackbird is nesting 2 gardens away yet comes to our garden for nest material and food. Here it lands on our fence. <br /> <br /> First, it checks if our cat is around. If yes, it turns around. If no, it checks if I&#039;m in the garden and where. Then it lands, picks what it needs, and leaves. 3 minutes later the cycle repeats, non-stop, until daylight is gone.<br /> <figure class="photo"><a href="https://www.jungledragon.com/image/93124/common_blackbird_-_male_heesch_netherlands.html" title="Common Blackbird - male, Heesch, Netherlands"><img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/media.jungledragon.com/images/2/93124_thumb.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=05GMT0V3GWVNE7GGM1R2&Expires=1759968010&Signature=W8WWcmiYv778X7HTW1prNkqvvqc%3D" width="200" height="110" alt="Common Blackbird - male, Heesch, Netherlands One of the most common birds to attend our garden. What is unusual this time is that Henriette and I have been at home full time for several weeks now, so we get to experience their most critical life cycle up close and in great detail. We&#039;ve build an intimate relationship with this bird. <br /> <br /> Here we are basically at step 2 already. The 2 weeks prior, this bird used our garden for nest material, coming and going non-stop, hundreds of times per day. On this photo, we&#039;re at the food collection phase, so the young ones are born.<br /> <br /> In the nesting phase, they dramatically change in behavior. They lose most sense of fear and even become cocky. For example, this one even comes into our house to steal our cat&#039;s food, if we leave the door open. It&#039;s also impatiently looking at me to turn on the water sprayer, so that the rain worms come to the surface.<br /> <br /> It still very much freaks out when it sees our cat, but not when it sees me. You can build trust with some birds with a zero-interest approach. Sit still, be still, no sudden movements and when you move, move in the opposite direction or parallel to the bird, never directly at it. They will learn that you&#039;re not a threat.<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/93128/common_blackbird_-_male_-_closeup_heesch_netherlands.html Common Blackbird,Europe,Garden,Heesch,Netherlands,Turdus merula,World" /></a></figure><br /> <figure class="photo"><a href="https://www.jungledragon.com/image/93128/common_blackbird_-_male_-_closeup_heesch_netherlands.html" title="Common Blackbird - male - closeup, Heesch, Netherlands"><img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/media.jungledragon.com/images/2/93128_thumb.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=05GMT0V3GWVNE7GGM1R2&Expires=1759968010&Signature=aaZuVnpKPqaJNCbK35slatOL5ew%3D" width="200" height="136" alt="Common Blackbird - male - closeup, Heesch, Netherlands A male common blackbird in our garden, collecting rain worms. It will typically catch 2 or 3 on each run.<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/93124/common_blackbird_-_male_heesch_netherlands.html Common Blackbird,Europe,Garden,Heesch,Netherlands,Turdus merula,World" /></a></figure> Common Blackbird,Europe,Garden,Heesch,Netherlands,Turdus merula,World Click/tap to enlarge

Common Blackbird - male - security checkup, Heesch, Netherlands

For the last several weeks, this scene happens about once every 3 minutes. This blackbird is nesting 2 gardens away yet comes to our garden for nest material and food. Here it lands on our fence.

First, it checks if our cat is around. If yes, it turns around. If no, it checks if I'm in the garden and where. Then it lands, picks what it needs, and leaves. 3 minutes later the cycle repeats, non-stop, until daylight is gone.

Common Blackbird - male, Heesch, Netherlands One of the most common birds to attend our garden. What is unusual this time is that Henriette and I have been at home full time for several weeks now, so we get to experience their most critical life cycle up close and in great detail. We've build an intimate relationship with this bird. <br /> <br /> Here we are basically at step 2 already. The 2 weeks prior, this bird used our garden for nest material, coming and going non-stop, hundreds of times per day. On this photo, we're at the food collection phase, so the young ones are born.<br /> <br /> In the nesting phase, they dramatically change in behavior. They lose most sense of fear and even become cocky. For example, this one even comes into our house to steal our cat's food, if we leave the door open. It's also impatiently looking at me to turn on the water sprayer, so that the rain worms come to the surface.<br /> <br /> It still very much freaks out when it sees our cat, but not when it sees me. You can build trust with some birds with a zero-interest approach. Sit still, be still, no sudden movements and when you move, move in the opposite direction or parallel to the bird, never directly at it. They will learn that you're not a threat.<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/93128/common_blackbird_-_male_-_closeup_heesch_netherlands.html Common Blackbird,Europe,Garden,Heesch,Netherlands,Turdus merula,World

Common Blackbird - male - closeup, Heesch, Netherlands A male common blackbird in our garden, collecting rain worms. It will typically catch 2 or 3 on each run.<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/93124/common_blackbird_-_male_heesch_netherlands.html Common Blackbird,Europe,Garden,Heesch,Netherlands,Turdus merula,World

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The Common Blackbird

The Common Blackbird is a species of true thrush. It is also called Eurasian Blackbird, or simply Blackbird, where this does not lead to confusion with a similar-looking local species. It breeds in Europe, Asia, and North Africa, and has been introduced to Australia and New Zealand.

Info 104 3
Similar species: Perching Birds
Species identified by Ferdy Christant
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By Ferdy Christant

All rights reserved
Uploaded Apr 24, 2020. Captured Apr 11, 2020 11:25.
country flag of Netherlands Explore Netherlands 8,314 2,306 0
  • NIKON D850
  • f/5.6
  • 1/1000s
  • ISO250
  • 400mm