Juvenile blackbird with no tail (2 Viewers)

[ardnasx1]

There was a newly fledged blackbird in my garden yesterday evening with nearly no tail. Only for its parents fussing around it I wouldn't have been sure what it was! Is it normal for juvenile blackbirds to have stumpy tails or has this one got something wrong with it? And if so is it likely to survive? I've never seen one quite so young before.

 

[Gill Osborne]

Hi Sandra

I don't think you have anything to worry about as Blackbirds leave the nest at a ridiculously young age! From what I can remember they can barely fly as their plumage is not fully grown and the parents DO continue to feed them whilst they remain hidden from predators in the undergrowth.

Perhaps keep an eye on it without approaching too closely just in case something HAS happened to the parent birds...but I think everything will be ok.

Haven't seen any baby birds yet though there IS a lot of activity so perhaps the youngsters are still in the nest up here.

 

[chippingsparrow]

No tail? Maybe a narrow escape from a cat? Did you see any loose feathers around?

 

[ardnasx1]

Hi Gill and Chippingsparrow

I didn't see any loose feathers around. The parents were around so I know it wasn't abandoned. The juvenile blackbirds I've seen in the past have all had tails but I've never seen one this young looking, so hopefully it is the case that that is how they look when they leave the nest. Haven't seen it today but I'll be keeping an eye out.

 

[Sleeper]

There was a newly fledged blackbird in my garden yesterday evening with nearly no tail. Only for its parents fussing around it I wouldn't have been sure what it was! Is it normal for juvenile blackbirds to have stumpy tails or has this one got something wrong with it? And if so is it likely to survive? I've never seen one quite so young before.

Hi

I too agree that this is normal. I have seen my first Blackbird juvenile of 2006 and can confirm that it also is without tail. I also see other young Thrush species without tails. I think it is noticable due to the odd appearance it gives them.

 

[ardnasx1]

Hi

I too agree that this is normal. I have seen my first Blackbird juvenile of 2006 and can confirm that it also is without tail. I also see other young Thrush species without tails. I think it is noticable due to the odd appearance it gives them.

Thanks Sleeper, I'm glad to know that it is normal. It is very peculiar looking.

 

[steve55]

Thanks Sleeper, I'm glad to know that it is normal. It is very peculiar looking.

I've had the same experience this week with my first juv blackbird this year in my back yard with very short tail feathers and not very capable of flying for long