Blackbird/Song Thrush NZ (3 Viewers)

[silvergecko]

Hi,
I'd like to think I know my blackbirds from song thrushes but this particular bird has been hanging around my feeders for a couple of weeks now. Sorry about the quality of the pics I had to take it through the window and didn't have much time to line the shot up.

Also of interest we have a definite song thrush who comes every few days with no tail.

There are a hell of a lot of both birds around here so I'm wondering if there is quite a bit of interbreeding going on - though I wouldn't have thought that was possible?

 

[lou salomon]

looks like an odd female turdus merula.

 

[silvergecko]

Yes, I'd like to agree but the markings on the neck are absolutely that of a thrush. I don't think it comes out in the pics but I have looked at it quite a bit and the markings are so clear. Also it definitely doesn't have the yellowish bill of a female blackbird??

 

[halftwo]

Blackbird. An odd-ish one, as Lou says, but no thrush. Speciation in action?!

 

[Chlidonias]

yes its a blackbird

 

[birdingintas]

I edited the photo slightly to try and drag a little more detail and colour out of it but due to the small size of the image posted I couldn't do much with my limited editing knowledge. Anhowz have a look at this, as others have said it's definitely a blackbird, but an odd looking one for sure.

 

[silvergecko]

Thanks James,
it wouldn't let me upload a bigger image so that's why it's so small. I'm going to try and get a better picture today.
I have noticed at least one other bird here that has the same features but is slightly less pale on the head. So I'm wondering if they are from the same nest, perhaps just genetic variance.
It's interesting that other people haven't seen this sort of variance before though?

 

[phil baber]

It's a female Blackbird. They are so variable, really!

 

[Tideliner]

I agree its a blackbird , but could it be a juvenile \1st year bird retaining some of its juvenile head\neck plumage