The Blackbird
The Blackbird is one of our most common birds and its lovely song can be heard throughout the year.
Blackbirds are members of the Thrush family.
The male is black with a yellow beak however the female is brown and her beak more orange.
They feed on Ivy berries and other fruits in winter and during the breeding season they feed their young on worms.
In winter Irish Blackbirds are joined by birds from Scandinavia.
Blackbirds begin their breeding season in April and the female builds the nest in Ivy, Briars or trees.
The pair can have 2 broods if the weather is good and food is plentiful.
The hatchlings are fed on worms or caterpillars and fledge after about 2 weeks. They continue to be fed by their parents for another 3 weeks after which time they will fly off to find their own territory.
In Celtic folklore the Blackbird was known as one of the three oldest animals in the world along with the Trout and the Stag. A legend has it that St Kevin of Glendalough was praying with his hands outstretched and a Blackbird laid an egg in his palm. St Kevin stood in the same position until the egg hatched and the baby bird fledged. Images of St Kevin often include him holding a Blackbird.
