Common Blackbird

Bird name: Common Blackbird
Latin: Turdus merula
Other: Merle Noir • Eurasian Blackbird
Family: Turdidae • Thrushes

Photo: monacoeye • Ventimiglia • Mar 2009

A female Blackbird picks up a shrivelled olive from last year’s windfall, before swallowing it hole. Olive trees are very popular with many species of birds during the winter, especially Starlings, once all the fig trees have been stripped of their remaining dried fruits. An abundant “garden” bird in some areas. We came across many pairs of birds in one public garden.