Starling/Blackbird cross UK (1 Viewer)

[jcjsmc]

Hello eveyone first post here, i would like a bit of advise please.
I appear to have a blackbird/starling hybrid visiting my garden pulling worms in the lawn, it has the distinctive orange beak but stubby tail, also when it lifts its wings it has the starling mottling/spotty underneath.
Is this common? i thought birds didn't cross breed, and the fact that this one is gathering worms must mean it has successfully mated despite its appearance.
many thanks.

 

[James Thomas]

Starlings and blackbirds won't hybridise. It's possibly a blackbird that has lost its tail feathers

 

[esmondb]

Juvenile blackbird?

 

[Apodemus]

If it has an orange beak it is an adult blackbird.

And no, they don't hybridise.

Mike

 

[ChrisKten]

I agree, sounds like a Blackbird.

I see quite a few Blackbirds with stubby tails, I've always assumed they had a close encounter with a Cat.