Common blackbird / Amsel (Turdus merula)

Wunderschöner junge Amsel. 2024-05-29 07:27:36 Levanto

Observations

First documented observation: 2008-01-01 in Australia. Most recent observation: 2026-05-14 in Switzerland.

Description

Classification: Genus Turdus (Turdus); Family Thrushes (Turdidae)
General: The first bird I loved listening to
General: It earned its own song on my album i.e.: Blackbird on a Palm Tree.
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Jahres-, Zugvogel, Wintergast

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=24-25 cm, wingspan=34-38 cm, weight=80-125 g
Habitats: Settlement
Interesting behavior: Flaps its wings when calling.

Vocalisation

Song: Other: Gut zu erkennen ist die Amsel. Sie singt melodiös, erklärt Heller, «zuerst flötend und dann gegen Schluss so schnirpslig». Die Amsel singe gerne dort, wo sie gut gehört werde, etwa vor Hauswänden, die den Schall nicht schlucken. Ich wollte schauen was schnirpslig heisst, aber diese ist diese einzige Verwendung, die Google kennt! Der flötende Teil ist relativ tief, 1.5-3 KHz, der schnirpslige aber 2.5-7 KHz. (Schnirpslig ist ein schones Wort das der Redner erfunden hat - Google findet nur diese eine Webseite mit dem Wort!) [Von der SRF Webseite:]
Song: Melodisch flötend dazwischen auch zerquetschte Töne. Die Elemente werden nicht wiederholt. Singt von Singwarte aus. Ca. 100 verschiedene Strophentypen. [Link]
One of the most appreciated song birds. Very melodious and resonant, with long mellow notes and a large register. Less high pitched sounds than Song Thrush, and seldom repeats a phrase. Timbre fuller than both Song Thrush and Mistle Thrush. Well defined pauses between phrases, giving the song a relaxed pace. [Link] Song attributes: Melody: improvised melodic (lmh), slow, Frequency: 1-7 KHz Special sounds: flourish Singing season: 02-01 - 07-31 Dawn chorus start: 45 minutes before dawn.
Repetitiver, einfallsloser Amsel den ich für einen Misteldrossel gehalten habe, dazu eine Kohlemeise der singt und ich mit einer Tannen-meise gewechselt habe. 2023-02-23 17:40:48 Melody: lmh Singers: Common blackbird, Mistle thrush🐦
♫ 2023-02-23 17:40:48 Source: Zoom H6/H2n (song)

Dawn chorus an der Luppen - Amsel 2m06, Mönchsgrasmücke 4m, 8+m, Kohlmeise, Hausrotschwanz, Aaskrähe. Luppmen 2024-05-15 05:27:28 Melody: m Singers: Common blackbird, Black cap warbler🐦, Great tit🐦, Black redstart🐦, Carrion crow🐦
♫ 2024-05-15 05:27:28 Source: Zoom H6/H2n Luppmen (song)

Calls: Je nach Situation, „duck duck duck“, „tix-tix-tix“ in rascher Folge, „srieh“ (auch als Flugwarnruf) [Link]
Large repertoire of calls. Most characteristic is a hysterical rattle often given when flushed. Sometimes preceded by a hard "tok tok", which then accelerates into a panicky arpeggio-like crescendo. Contact call a thin redwing-like "srrreee". Alarm calls: a sharp "tink, tink" or a very high pitch falling whistle. [Link] 1: Sharp-edged call, mostly one note.
XC919083 - Common Blackbird - Turdus merula - 1-note alarm call in Estonia.

XC919083 - Common Blackbird - Turdus merula - 1-note alarm call in Estonia. ♫ Source: XENOCANTO XC919083 - Common Blackbird - Turdus merula - 1-note alarm call in Estonia.mp3 (alarm call)

Alarm rattle

Alarm rattle Had never heard something like this, but I saw a black bird land in a tree by the Luppmen and shortly thereafter a blackbird started singing, so I check xeno-canto for something similar. Sometimes called an alarm rattle.
♫
XC931182 - Common Blackbird - Turdus merula - alarm call swoop from Sweden.

XC931182 - Common Blackbird - Turdus merula - alarm call swoop from Sweden. ♫ Source: XENOCANTO XC931182 - Common Blackbird - Turdus merula - alarm call swoop from Sweden.mp3 (alarm call)

2: Loud falling series of notes, unlike anything else you hear from a blackbird, sometimes called an alarm rattle

Call attributes: alarm call Call melody: one note, slow, Frequency: medium (1-5 KHz),