Blackbirds UK - Distinguishing residents/migrants? (1 Viewer)

[pdh]

In the past couple of weeks, the population of Blackbirds (Turdus merula) local to me (Nth Dorset) has boomed in a particularly noticeable way; I'm presuming the sudden increase is due to migration from Continental Europe.

Are there any reliable way of distinguishing migrants and residents in this species? A brief google suggested that continental birds may have a darker bill, but also suggested that this wasn't entirely reliable.

thanks in advance

MODS: If this is better placed in a different sub-forum, please move

 

[Tony Morris]

As far as I know the increase in population in winter comes from Europe to the north and east, while some of our population move south. These will all be the same sub-species, Turdus merula merula. I don't think any of the other sub-species occur in the UK. Ringers may have a greater knowledge.

 

[pstraughan]

My understanding is also that Continental birds have a darker bill. When we were in the Scilly Isles in August it was quite noticeable that the Blackbirds had a more orange bill than the yellow billed mainland birds.

Pat

 

[King Edward]

Being in Dorset, I'd have thought that quite a lot of the migrants could be from further north in Britain, rather than from the continent. Although, given the reported food shortages in northern Europe maybe more Blackbirds than usual are coming over here from there, as for other species.

 

[pdh]

I neglected to mention in my original post that a fair proportion of those I see have a dark (chocolate-coloured) glossy bill

 

[Tideliner]

Bill colour is an indicator of age not race. I have handled thousands of blackbirds on the N Norfolk Coast and as a whole you cant tell the difference between local and migrant birds. But in December and early we have a small influx of unusual blackbirds. The 1st winter males have ring ouzel like scalloping of brown edged black feathers and the females are so dark its sometimes hard to be sure of their sex unless you look at the tails , always a reliable indicator. I have never had a recovery form these birds but they fit what BWP calls stockamsel variety from Germany and Poland