Identification
Physical Characteristics
Size: A medium-sized bird, measuring 24 to 28 cm in length.
Coloration: This species exhibits strong sexual dimorphism in its colouring. The adult male is entirely glossy black. His beak is a striking bright orange-yellow, and he has a distinct yellow ring around his eye. The adult female, in contrast, is a uniform dark brown, often with some subtle mottling or streaking on her throat and breast. Her beak is a dull brownish-yellow. Juvenile birds resemble the female but have more obvious pale speckles on their back and breast, giving them a spotted appearance.
Key Features: The male is unmistakable: an all-black bird with a bright yellow/orange beak and eye-ring. The female is distinguished from other brown birds by her size, thrush-like shape, and her habit of foraging noisily in leaf litter. Their beautiful, flute-like song is also a key identifying feature.
Biology & Lifecycle
Development & Reproduction
Reproduction Rate: Highly successful breeders. They will typically raise two or three broods per season, and if a nest fails, they will quickly re-nest. This high reproductive output has been a key factor in their successful invasion.
Lifecycle Details
Egg Stage
The breeding season in Australia extends from late winter (July) through to summer (January/February). The female builds a large, deep, cup-shaped nest, which is a sturdy construction of grass, twigs, and moss, bound together with mud and lined with fine, soft grass. Nests are typically built in dense, protected shrubs, trees, or creepers, usually within a few metres of the ground. She lays a clutch of 3 to 5 greenish-blue eggs that are covered with reddish-brown freckles. Incubation is carried out almost entirely by the female and lasts for 12-14 days.
Larval Stage
The 'nestling' stage. The chicks hatch helpless and are fed by both parents. The diet for the young is rich in protein, consisting almost entirely of earthworms, caterpillars, and other invertebrates. The parents are highly attentive and make frequent trips to the nest with food. The nestling period lasts for about 13-16 days.
Pupal Stage
The 'fledgling' stage. After leaving the nest, the young blackbirds are not yet proficient flyers and spend a lot of time on the ground or in low bushes, hiding from predators. They have speckled brown plumage that provides excellent camouflage. Both parents continue to feed and protect them for up to three more weeks after they have fledged. This is a very vulnerable period in their lives, as they are susceptible to predation by cats.
Adult Stage
Blackbirds can begin breeding in their first year. They are generally monogamous during a breeding season, and pairs may stay together for several seasons. In Australia's milder climate, they are relatively sedentary. The average lifespan in the wild is around 2-4 years, but some individuals can live for much longer.
Reproduction Rate
Highly successful breeders. They will typically raise two or three broods per season, and if a nest fails, they will quickly re-nest. This high reproductive output has been a key factor in their successful invasion.
Generations Per Year
Two to three generations per year.
Development Time
From egg-laying to the independence of the young takes approximately 6-7 weeks.
Seasonal Cycle
Breeding occurs from late winter to summer. In autumn and winter, they are less territorial and may form loose flocks, especially at abundant food sources. Their diet also shifts more towards fruit in the colder months.
Environmental Factors
Their success is linked to human-altered environments that mimic their native European habitats. Irrigated gardens, parks, and orchards provide the soft soils, earthworms, and fruit that they need to thrive.
Habitat & Distribution
Preferred Habitats
- Suburban gardens, parks, and cemeteries with a mix of lawns, mulch, and dense shrubbery.
- Orchards, vineyards, and berry farms.
- Moist, temperate woodlands and forests, especially near creeks.
- They thrive in well-watered, shady environments that support a high population of earthworms.
Distribution Patterns
Australian Distribution
Common and widespread throughout south-eastern Australia. Their range covers most of Victoria, Tasmania, south-eastern South Australia, the ACT, and the coastal and tableland areas of New South Wales. They are largely absent from Queensland and Western Australia.
Climate Zones
- Temperate
- Mediterranean
Urban vs Rural Distribution
Extremely common in suburban environments, which provide a perfect mosaic of lawns for worm-hunting and shrubs for nesting. They are also a significant pest in rural horticultural areas.
Native Range
Native across Europe, and parts of Asia and North Africa.
Introduced Range
Successfully introduced to Australia and New Zealand.
Introduction History
First introduced to Melbourne in the 1850s, with subsequent introductions to other cities like Adelaide and Hobart. They were brought in by settlers wanting to establish familiar European birds.
Current Spread
Their range is still slowly expanding, particularly northwards along the NSW coast and further into some inland river systems, but their spread is largely limited by climate.
Limiting Factors
Their inability to tolerate hot, dry climates has prevented them from colonising most of Western Australia, the arid centre, and tropical northern Australia.
Behavior & Diet
Activity Pattern
Diurnal. They are most active in the early morning and late afternoon, especially when foraging on lawns. Their beautiful song is also most commonly heard at dawn and dusk.
Dietary Preferences
Feeding Habits
Omnivorous, with a diet that shifts seasonally.
Health Risks
Always consult healthcare professionals for medical concerns related to pest exposure.
Disease Transmission
- Not considered a significant direct health risk to humans.
- Like any wild bird, they can carry bacteria such as Salmonella or Campylobacter in their droppings, which could potentially contaminate fruit they have pecked.
- They can host various bird parasites, but these rarely affect humans.
Allergens and Respiratory Issues
Negligible risk to the general public.
Contamination Risk
Moderate risk for commercial fruit growers and home gardeners. Their habit of pecking at multiple fruits can lead to the spread of fungal and bacterial rots (like brown rot) through an orchard or berry patch, ruining the fruit for human consumption.
Vulnerable Populations
- Commercial fruit growers are most vulnerable to the economic impacts.
- Home gardeners with vegetable patches and fruit trees.
Symptoms of Exposure
- Not applicable for human health.
- Signs in the garden include pecked and damaged fruit, often with secondary mould growth.
Transmission Methods
- Mechanical transmission of fruit rotting fungi and bacteria from one fruit to another via their beak.
Risk Severity
Low for human health. Moderate for garden and crop hygiene.
Economic Impact
Treatment Costs
Professional Treatment
$1000 - $10,000+ for professional full-canopy netting of commercial orchards or vineyards.
Prevention Costs
$100 - $500 for a home gardener to purchase good quality netting for fruit trees and berry patches.
Diy Treatment
$20 - $100 for scare tape, model predators, or other deterrents.
Property Damage
Structural Damage
None.
Garden Damage
Significant. They cause major damage to soft fruit crops. Their vigorous scratching in mulch can uproot small seedlings, disturb soil, and make garden beds look messy.
Food Contamination
Can contaminate crops by pecking fruit, making it unsaleable.
Equipment Damage
None.
Business Impact
Restaurant Issues
None.
Retail Impact
None.
Reputation Damage
None.
Operational Disruption
None.
Agricultural Impact
Crop Damage
A major pest in many horticultural industries, including viticulture (grapes), cherries, strawberries, blueberries, and other berry fruits. They can cause a very high percentage of crop loss if not controlled.
Yield Loss
Can be very significant, sometimes destroying 50% or more of an unprotected crop.
Beneficial Aspects
They do eat some snails, slugs, and insect pests, but this benefit is far outweighed by the damage they cause to fruit and gardens.
Economic Loss
The cost of control measures (especially netting) and the value of lost fruit represents a significant economic impact for growers in south-eastern Australia.
Indirect Costs
Healthcare Costs
None.
Cleanup Costs
Minor costs for gardeners cleaning up scattered mulch.
Replacement Costs
Cost of replacing damaged seedlings or lost fruit.
Preventive Maintenance
The annual labour and capital cost of deploying and removing bird netting is a major ongoing expense for many farmers.
Detection & Signs
Common Signs of Common Blackbird Activity
- Large amounts of droppings in concentrated areas, particularly on ledges, under bridges, and around buildings
- Visual sightings of live birds, especially in flocks around buildings or food sources
- Nesting materials such as twigs, feathers, and debris in sheltered areas like roof voids, balconies, and building crevices
- Damage to property including stained surfaces from acidic droppings and blocked gutters from nesting materials
- Unpleasant odors from accumulated droppings and decaying nesting materials
- Noise disturbances, particularly early morning cooing, flapping, and scratching sounds
Areas to Check
- Building ledges, window sills, and architectural features that provide shelter
- Under eaves, balconies, and covered outdoor areas
- Around air conditioning units, solar panels, and rooftop equipment
- Bridge underpasses and similar structures
- Near food sources such as outdoor dining areas and waste disposal points
Prevention
Sanitation Measures
- This is less about sanitation and more about food source denial.
- Harvest fruit and berries as soon as they are ripe to minimise the window of opportunity for them to be eaten.
- Promptly pick up any fallen fruit from the ground, as this will also attract them.
- While they primarily eat worms and fruit, securing compost bins can reduce an alternative food source.
Exclusion Methods
- This is the most effective method for crop protection.
- Drape bird-proof netting over fruit trees, berry patches, and vegetable gardens. The netting must be secured at the bottom to prevent birds from getting underneath.
- Ensure the mesh size is small enough to be effective but check it regularly to ensure no animals have become entangled.
- For individual bunches of grapes or other fruit, mesh exclusion bags can be used.
- They do not enter buildings, so proofing houses is not necessary.
Landscaping Tips
- If blackbirds are a major problem, consider reducing the amount of lawn and mulch, which are their primary foraging areas for invertebrates.
- Using heavier mulches, like coarse bark or pebbles, can make it more difficult for them to flick aside.
- Planting fruit trees in a dedicated, netted enclosure is the most effective long-term solution for a home orchard.
- Avoid planting their favourite berry-producing shrubs if you wish to discourage them.
Monitoring Strategies
- Monitor your fruit crops daily as they begin to ripen.
- Listen for their song to know when they are establishing territories in your area.
- Observe your garden beds for signs of disturbance to know if they are foraging heavily.
- Early detection of the first pecked fruit is the cue to implement protective measures immediately.
Environmental Modification
- Modifying your watering schedule can have an impact. Because they rely on soft, moist soil to find earthworms, reducing lawn irrigation can make foraging more difficult and encourage them to move elsewhere.
- Letting the top layer of soil in garden beds dry out can also reduce the availability of their invertebrate prey.
- This must be balanced with the needs of your plants.
Control Methods
Professional Treatment Methods
Chemical Control
Not applicable. There are no chemical poisons registered for the control of blackbirds.
Biological Control
Not applicable.
Physical Control
For commercial growers, professionals can install large-scale, permanent netting structures over entire orchards or vineyards. In some specific circumstances, licensed professionals may use shooting or trapping, but this is not a common or practical solution for residential areas.
Integrated Approach
A successful integrated approach for a commercial grower involves: 1) Site selection and planning to minimise attractiveness. 2) Use of deterrents like auditory scarers or visual deterrents during the ripening period. 3) The primary and most effective method: full-canopy or drape netting to physically exclude the birds from the crop.
DIY Treatment Options
Natural Remedies
There are no proven natural remedies that will reliably stop blackbirds from eating fruit.
Home Made Traps
Trapping is not a recommended or practical DIY method for this species.
Deterrent Methods
Visual deterrents can be partially effective. This includes hanging reflective scare tape, old CDs, or model hawks in fruit trees. The effectiveness is usually temporary as the birds quickly learn they are not a real threat. Auditory scarers that play predator calls or blackbird distress calls can also work for a short time.
Mechanical Control
The most effective DIY method is to use netting. Purchase good quality bird netting from a garden centre and create a physical barrier around your plants. Ensure it is pulled taut and secured to the ground to be effective and to prevent animals from getting tangled.
Treatment Effectiveness
Success Rate
Netting, when installed correctly, is close to 100% effective. All other deterrents (visual, auditory) have a low and temporary success rate, as the birds rapidly habituate.
Timeframe
Netting provides immediate protection. Deterrents may only work for a few days to a week.
Follow Up Required
Netting should be checked regularly for damage or gaps. Deterrents need to be moved frequently to delay habituation.
Seasonal Considerations
Protective measures are only required during the fruit ripening stage.
Application Techniques
- Correct installation of bird netting, ensuring it is secured and does not have gaps.
- Random and frequent rotation of scare devices to reduce habituation.
- Using a combination of different deterrents (e.g., visual and auditory) may be more effective than a single method.
Professional Services
Professional Treatment Services
Chemical Control
Not applicable. There are no chemical poisons registered for the control of blackbirds.
Biological Control
Not applicable.
Physical Control
For commercial growers, professionals can install large-scale, permanent netting structures over entire orchards or vineyards. In some specific circumstances, licensed professionals may use shooting or trapping, but this is not a common or practical solution for residential areas.
Integrated Approach
A successful integrated approach for a commercial grower involves: 1) Site selection and planning to minimise attractiveness. 2) Use of deterrents like auditory scarers or visual deterrents during the ripening period. 3) The primary and most effective method: full-canopy or drape netting to physically exclude the birds from the crop.
Professional Treatment Costs
$1000 - $10,000+ for professional full-canopy netting of commercial orchards or vineyards.
Treatment Success Rates
Netting, when installed correctly, is close to 100% effective. All other deterrents (visual, auditory) have a low and temporary success rate, as the birds rapidly habituate.
Treatment Timeframe
Netting provides immediate protection. Deterrents may only work for a few days to a week.
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Browse All ProvidersSeasonal Patterns
Spring Activity
The peak of the breeding season. Males sing vigorously to defend territories. Both parents are busy foraging for worms and insects to feed their young. Damage to seedlings from their foraging is highest now.
Summer Activity
Breeding continues, with second and third broods being raised. As soft fruits and berries begin to ripen, their diet shifts, and they become a major fruit pest.
Autumn Activity
Breeding finishes. Birds moult their feathers. They begin to focus heavily on eating fruits and berries to build up fat reserves. They become less territorial.
Winter Activity
Territorial behaviour ceases. They may form loose flocks. Foraging continues on lawns and in gardens, and they will eat any remaining fruits or berries. The famous song usually begins again in late winter, signalling the start of the next breeding cycle.
Breeding Season
July to February.
Peak Activity Period
Pest activity is highest in spring for garden bed damage, and in summer for fruit damage.
Environmental Factors
Temperature Effects
Breeding is triggered by warming temperatures and increasing day length. They are well-adapted to cool temperate winters.
Humidity Effects
Reliable rainfall and soil moisture are important as they ensure a good supply of earthworms, their primary food source.
Photoperiod Effects
Increasing day length in late winter/early spring is the primary trigger for singing and the start of the breeding season.
Weather Patterns
After rain, they are often seen foraging very actively on lawns as worms come to the surface.
Legal Considerations
Legal Considerations
Professional pest control operators must be licensed and comply with relevant state and local regulations regarding bird control treatments. Most bird species in Australia are not protected, allowing for standard pest control methods. However, it's recommended to verify specific regulations in your area before implementing control measures.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Common Blackbird native to Australia?
No, it is an introduced species. The Common Blackbird was intentionally brought to Australia from Europe in the 1850s and 1860s by acclimatisation societies. These groups of early European settlers aimed to introduce familiar species from their homeland to make the Australian environment feel less foreign. Along with other species like House Sparrows, Starlings, and Goldfinches, Blackbirds were released in cities like Melbourne and Adelaide. They found the suburban gardens, parks, and orchards of south-eastern Australia to be a perfect substitute for their native habitat, and they have since become a very common and widespread feature of the region's birdlife.
Why are Blackbirds tearing up my garden bed?
This is the classic foraging behaviour of the Common Blackbird and a primary reason they are considered a garden pest. They are searching for food. Their diet consists heavily of earthworms, insect larvae, slugs, snails, and other invertebrates that live in the top layer of soil and in the mulch or leaf litter on top of it. To get to this food, they use their strong feet and beak to vigorously flick aside any covering material. They will systematically work their way through a garden bed, scattering mulch, soil, and small seedlings in all directions. While they are not intentionally trying to destroy your plants, their energetic feeding habits can easily uproot freshly planted seedlings and make a tidy garden look very messy.
How can I stop Blackbirds from eating all the fruit on my trees?
The only truly effective, long-term solution to protect your fruit from Blackbirds is physical exclusion using netting. As soon as your fruit begins to show the first signs of ripening or colouring, you should cover your tree or berry patch with bird-proof netting. It is crucial to ensure the net reaches all the way to the ground or is secured around the trunk of the tree, leaving no gaps for the birds to sneak under. Visual deterrents like scare tape, old CDs, or model owls can work for a very short period, but the birds are intelligent and quickly learn that there is no real threat. For a dedicated home orchardist, investing in a permanent, netted enclosure is the most reliable strategy.
I love the Blackbird's song, but I hate the mess they make. What can I do?
This is a common dilemma for many Australian gardeners. The Blackbird's beautiful, melodic song is a cherished sound of dawn and dusk, but their destructive foraging can be infuriating. A balanced approach is often best. You can't stop them from singing, but you can minimise their damage. Use heavier, coarser mulches in your garden beds, like larger wood chips instead of fine sugarcane mulch, as this is harder for them to flick around. When planting out new, small seedlings, you can protect them individually for a few weeks with small wire cloches until their roots are established. Most importantly, when your fruit is ripening, be diligent with netting. This allows you to enjoy their presence and song in the garden for most of the year while protecting your most vulnerable plants when it matters most.
Are male and female Blackbirds different colours?
Yes, they are very different, a feature known as strong sexual dimorphism. The male Common Blackbird is the one most people easily recognise: he is covered in glossy, solid black plumage and has a striking, bright orange-to-yellow beak and a prominent yellow ring around his eye. The female, however, looks like a completely different bird. She is a uniform dark brown colour, often with a slightly paler, mottled throat. Her beak is a much duller brownish-yellow, and she lacks the bright eye-ring of the male. Juvenile birds of both sexes initially resemble the female but have noticeable buff-coloured speckles on their feathers, especially on their chest.
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Image Gallery
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