

Eurasian Blackbird
Turdus merula
Silhouette: Anthony Caravaggi · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAves (Birds)
- OrderPasseriformes (Perching Birds)
- FamilyTurdidae (Thrushes)
- GenusTurdus (Typical Thrushes)
- SpeciesTurdus merula (Eurasian Blackbird)
About the Eurasian Blackbird
The common blackbird (Turdus merula) is a species of true thrush. It is also known as the Eurasian blackbird (especially in North America, to distinguish it from the unrelated New World blackbirds), or simply the blackbird. It breeds in Europe, western Asia, and North Africa, and has been introduced to Australia and New Zealand. It has a number of subspecies across its large range; a few former Asian subspecies are now widely treated as separate species. Depending on latitude, the common blackbird may be resident, partially migratory, or fully migratory.
The adult male of the common blackbird (Turdus merula merula, the nominate subspecies), which is found throughout most of Europe, is all black except for a yellow eye-ring and bill and has a rich, melodious song. The adult female and juvenile have mainly dark brown plumage. This species breeds in woods and gardens, constructing neat, cup-shaped nests bound together with mud. It is omnivorous, eating a wide range of insects, earthworms, berries, and fruits.
Both sexes are territorial on the breeding grounds and have distinctive threat displays. However, they are more gregarious during migration and in wintering areas. Pairs remain in their territory throughout the year if the climate is sufficiently temperate. This common and conspicuous species has given rise to a number of literary and cultural references, often related to its song. Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Eurasian Blackbird in Dushanbe
LIVEiNaturalistGlobal Distribution
Parks Where Found
Zoos & Centres Where Found
| # | Zoo / Centre | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Moscow Zoo | 🇷🇺 Russia | |
| 2 | Barcelona Zoo | 🇪🇸 Spain | |
| 3 | Philadelphia Zoo | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 4 | Aquarama Barcelona | 🇪🇸 Spain | |
| 5 | Willowbank Wildlife Reserve | 🇳🇿 New Zealand |
Closest Relatives at Dushanbe
Before you go
What are the chances of seeing a Eurasian Blackbird in Dushanbe?
Very likely
About 90% of wildlife watchers report a Eurasian Blackbird sighting in Dushanbe on a given day, based on 805 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the most-seen of the 96 birds we can rate there.
When is the best time to see a Eurasian Blackbird in Dushanbe?
February, April and December
In those months over 90% of wildlife watchers report a Eurasian Blackbird in Dushanbe on a given day, against about 80% in July, September and November, the lowest months. Those are among Dushanbe's wettest months, with about 45 mm of rain a month against almost none in August.
What time of day is best to see a Eurasian Blackbird?
Between 8 and 11 am
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Eurasian Blackbird sightings with a recorded time, and about 9 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.
Is Dushanbe the best place to see a Eurasian Blackbird?
7th of 79
Of the 79 cities where we can rate Eurasian Blackbird sightings, Dushanbe ranks 7th at about 90%. The best odds are in Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan, over 90%), Mashhad (Iran, about 90%) and Amman (Jordan, about 90%).
Where does the Eurasian Blackbird sighting chance come from?
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Eurasian Blackbird is recorded against all the birds logged in Dushanbe (805 verified sightings), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
