Blackbird Call MP3s
Realistic audio for a species that sits on the official small-game hunting list in several southern European countries.
Also known as
Recordings (6)
About this species
A passerine songbird measuring roughly 25 cm, the Blackbird (Turdus merula) is unmistakable — the male jet-black with a vivid orange bill and eye-ring, the female warm brown. It is equally at home in leafy gardens, parks and broadleaved woodland.
Its rich, fluty, leisurely song from a rooftop or treetop is one of the finest of European bird voices. It feeds on earthworms, insects and, in autumn, windfall fruit and berries. It hops boldly over lawns, cocking its tail, and sings from prominent perches after dark. From breeding grounds across Europe to Mediterranean and African wintering areas, its seasonal journeys mark the turning year.
Legal use
The Common Blackbird is one of a small group of thrushes with a genuine, regulated hunting season in parts of southern Europe, particularly Italy, where the national hunting calendar typically opens from around late September through January, often restricted to hide-based hunting. France also lists Blackbird among its nationally permitted quarry species under its own seasonal rules. Outside these specific regimes the Blackbird is a protected songbird, so season dates, bag limits, and legal methods vary sharply by country and region — always confirm current local rules before use, and see our full country-by-country disclaimer for details.