Scientific name: Turdus merula Linnaeus, 1758
Bird group: Thrushes and allies
Field characters. 25 cm. Male easy to identify by completely black plumage with yellow or orange bill and orbital ring. Female more variable, dark earth-brown, with light throat and warm brown or rufous chest and belly, rather indistinctly spotted and striped with black. Tail long rounded, wings more rounded than in other thrushes. Juvenile resemble female, but are more orangy brown and heavily spotted and streaked, with light spots also on the upperparts. Usually solitary or in pairs, but small flocks occur on migration. Song from elevated perch, like top of roof, antenna, or treetop.
Voice. Song varied, with sweet fluting tones, not repeating single tones like in Song Thrush. Variety of calls include 'pink pink', 'chuk chuk', and loud rattle.
Distribution. Extremely common.
Habitat. Variety of habitats. Inhabits open deciduous woodland, parks, and suburbs, usually with enough cover, like dense trees, bushes etc.; also higher up in mountains and remote areas, where less common.
Food. Invertebrates, among which many earthworms, and fruits.