European Blackbird

Turdus merula

Family: Muscicapidae	Adult male, my garden © 2003 Mike Simpson Adult female, my garden - 9th Dec 2003 © 2003 Mike Simpson
Status: Introduced Resident / Common in Penrith
The European Blackbird first released by English settlers around 1860 in Melbourne, the Blackbird is well established in Melbourne, S.Aust and Tasmania, with pockets in inland NSW. However over the past 10 years or so, it has become very common in the Penrith area both in suburban gardens and alongside the Nepean River. The male is all black apart from a bright orange bill, the female is a dull brown. This bird visits gardens for fruit and also eats insects and worms.
Size: 25cm
Voice: A complicated pleasant song, sharp alarm call.
Nesting Ecology: Makes a large nest of bark, grass and mud in a bush about 1m above the ground, Sept-Jan
Australian Distribution: S.E.Aust from Adelaide to Sydney including Tas.
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