Eurasian Blackbird
Turdus merula
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Cordats)
- ClassAves (Aus)
- OrderPasseriformes
- FamilyTurdidae (Túrdids)
- GenusTurdus (Typical Thrushes)
- SpeciesTurdus merula (Eurasian Blackbird)
The common blackbird (Turdus merula) is a species of true thrush. It is also known as the Eurasian blackbird (especially in North America, to distinguish it from the unrelated New World blackbirds), or simply the blackbird. It breeds in Europe, western Asia, and North Africa, and has been introduced to Australia and New Zealand. It has a number of subspecies across its large range; a few former Asian subspecies are now widely treated as separate species. Depending on latitude, the common blackbird may be resident, partially migratory, or fully migratory. The adult male of the common blackbird (Turdus merula merula, the nominate subspecies), which is found throughout most of Europe, is all black except for a yellow eye-ring and bill and has a rich, melodious song. Wikipedia →
40–50% of wildlife watchers report a Eurasian Blackbird sighting in Rakiura National Park, based on 648 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
Closest Relatives at Rakiura National Park
Song Thrush
Turdus philomelos
Tūī
Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae
New Zealand Bellbird
Anthornis melanura
New Zealand Fantail
Rhipidura fuliginosa
Grey Warbler
Gerygone igata
South Island Robin
Petroica australis
Mōhua (Yellowhead)
Mohoua ochrocephala
South Island Saddleback
Philesturnus carunculatus
Chaffinch
Fringilla coelebs
Miromiro
Petroica macrocephala
European Starling
Sturnus vulgaris
Dunnock
Prunella modularis
📅 Monthly Probability
☀️ When They're Spotted
Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)
Global Distribution
Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.
where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is) · parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there
Parks Where Found
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Eurasian Blackbird in Rakiura National Park?
About 46% of wildlife watchers report a Eurasian Blackbird sighting in Rakiura National Park, based on 648 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Eurasian Blackbird in Rakiura National Park?
December has the highest sighting rate for Eurasian Blackbird in Rakiura National Park in our monthly data.