Common blackbird

Turdus merula
Common blackbird
Photo: Hobbyfotowiki, CC0, Wikimedia Commons
Common blackbird
Photo: Zeynel Cebeci, CC BY-SA, Wikimedia Commons
Common blackbird
Photo: Andreas Trepte, CC BY-SA, Wikimedia Commons

About

The Common blackbird is one of the most widespread thrushes in Ukraine. It lives in forests, gardens, parks, and villages, so in the Carpathians, you can encounter it both near a house in the valley and on a forest path. In the Polish Tatras, the bird nests up to an altitude of about 1400 m. Some birds migrate for the winter or descend lower, but in the Alps and Carpathians, some remain right in their nesting areas in the mountains.

The bird is about 25 cm long and weighs 80–110 g. The male is entirely black, with a bright yellow beak and a yellow ring around its eye. The female is dark brown, with spotted breasts, and can easily be confused with other thrushes.

The best way to recognize the Common blackbird is by its voice. The male sings from the top of a tree or roof a slow, melodic song with low flute-like sounds — most actively from March to June, and sometimes even until early July. In warm weather, young males, claiming their territory, may start singing as early as the end of January. A startled blackbird calls out anxiously with a 'chok-chok-chok' and flutters noisily into the bushes. It can mimic surrounding sounds: the voices of other birds, whistles, and even car alarms.

The blackbird mostly searches for food on the ground: it digs through fallen leaves, pulls out earthworms, catches caterpillars and other insects, and in autumn and winter, it readily eats berries. The Common blackbird is not listed in the Red Data Book of Ukraine.

Where in the Carpathians

fewermore35 999 records in the Carpathians

The map shows where naturalists recorded the species (GBIF, CC0 and CC BY records), not every place it lives. The Ukrainian Carpathians are less studied, so a blank area does not mean the species is absent.

Countries
Slovakia · Czechia · Poland · Hungary · Romania · Ukraine · Serbia · Austria · BG
Mountain ranges
Börzsöny and Cserhát, Volovec Mountains, Moravian-Silesian Beskids, Skole Beskids, Bucegi Mountains, Western Tatras, Bükk, Silesian Beskids, High Tatras, Slovak Ore Mountains
Altitude belts
Foothills (below 600 m) · Beech forests (600–1200 m)

When to see it

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Sightings

From naturalists’ observations in the Carpathians (iNaturalist, research grade): the darker the cell, the more often the species is seen that month.

Protection and rules

Not listed in the Red Data Book of Ukraine.

Red Data Book of Ukraine

FAQ

Who sings with a flute-like voice in the forest in spring?

Often it is the Common blackbird: the male sings a slow melodic song with low flute-like sounds, most actively from March to June.

Does the Common blackbird winter in the Carpathians?

Some birds migrate or descend lower, but some remain for the winter even in the mountains.

Similar species

Ring ouzelRing ouzelTurdus torquatusA black thrush with a white 'crescent' on its chest. In Ukraine, it nests only in the Carpathians — in the upper forests and krivolissia.
European robinEuropean robinErithacus rubeculaA small bird with an orange breast that sings at dusk. It nests on the ground in forests and shrubs.
Eurasian chaffinchEurasian chaffinchFringilla coelebsThe loudest singer of the spring forest: a ringing trill with a 'stroke' at the end. A very numerous bird of forests and gardens.

Where to meet it

Peaks and meadows

Mount Horodyshche (Boryslav)PeakMount Horodyshche (Boryslav)Boryslavaltitude 646 mHorodyshche (646 m; other sources give 641.8 m) is a hill in the Upper Dniester Beskids and the highest point of the...Mount Dil (Krushelnytsia)PeakMount Dil (Krushelnytsia)Krushelnytsiaaltitude 899 m · Skole Beskids rangeIt lies north-east of the Parashka ridge, about 2.6 km from Parashka itself (1,268 m), and rises above the village of...Mount TsetsynoPeakMount TsetsynoChernivtsialtitude 537 mTsetsyno is the highest hill of the Chernivtsi Upland, 537 m high (538 m according to other data).Castle Hill (City)PeakCastle Hill (City)Kosivaltitude 450 mThe top offers a panoramic view of the city. The mountain is home to unique black alpine pines, as well as deciduous...Mount Sopka (Stizhky, Zinyakov top).PeakMount Sopka (Stizhky, Zinyakov top).Kosivaltitude 620 m2 trails to the topStizhki (620 meters) offers a panoramic view of the city of Kosiv. The mountain is covered with forests - beech,...Mount KicheraPeakMount KicheraKosivaltitude 567 mThe march to Kichera is an easy walk that all tourists can do. The small length of the march allows you to take your...
Mount Ostry (Ostra)PeakMount Ostry (Ostra)Kosivaltitude 584 m2 trails to the topThe mountain offers wonderful views of the entire Kosiv. The descent is steep, and autumn is magical here.Mount Mykhalkova (Kosiv)PeakMount Mykhalkova (Kosiv)Kosivaltitude 812 m2 trails to the topMount Mykhalkova (Mykhalkiv), with a height of 812 meters, is part of the Pokuttya Carpathians.Mount OseredokPeakMount OseredokVorokhtaaltitude 915 m · Chornohora range1 trail to the topOseredok is a modest 915 m summit right above Vorokhta (about 2 km), north of the Chornohora range, in Ivano...White Stone RockPeakWhite Stone RockDoraaltitude 538 m7 trails to the topThe White Stone Rock is located in the village of Dora in the Carpathians and is one of the most prominent natural...Mount Makovytsia, YaremcheMountain meadow984 mMount Makovytsia, YaremcheYaremcheMakovytsia (984 m) is a mountain of the Gorgany range on the eastern edge of Yaremche, in the Carpathian National...Polonyna Rosokhata (Sheshory)Mountain meadow674 mPolonyna Rosokhata (Sheshory)SheshoryWhy is the meadow called "Rosokhata"? The two parts of the field that form the branches look like dewdrops.

Waters and waterfalls

Opir RiverRiverOpir RiverSkoleThe Opir is a 58-km mountain river of the Skole Beskids. It rises on the eastern slope of Mount Velykyi Yavirnyk,...Kamianka waterfallWaterfallKamianka waterfallDubyna"Kamianka Waterfall or Kamianka Waterfall is the most famous waterfall located on the mountain river of the same name...City Lake, Ivano-FrankivskLakeCity Lake, Ivano-FrankivskIvano-FrankivskThe City Lake(also known as the StanislavskeSea ) is the largest artificial lake (pond) in the city of Ivano-Frankivsk.DniesterRiverDniesterVovcheThe Dniester is one of the most famous and largest rivers in Ukraine. The Dniester has been used as an important...Boryslav waterfallWaterfallBoryslav waterfallBoryslavThe Young Boryslav Waterfall is a small waterfall (falling height is about two meters).Lake Zhuravlyne (Dead Lake)LakeLake Zhuravlyne (Dead Lake)KamiankaThere is one mysterious place in the Skole Beskydy National Nature Park - Zhuravlyne Lake, also called Dead Lake.
City Banske Lake (Kosiv)LakeCity Banske Lake (Kosiv)KosivThere are lakes of technogenic origin in the Hutsul mountains. One such lake is Banske Lake (near the former factory ...Kosivskyi Huk WaterfallWaterfallKosivskyi Huk WaterfallKosivKosivskyi Huk - one of the most beautiful waterfalls in the Ukrainian Carpathians (in the Pokuttya-Bukovyna...Tereblia RiverRiverTereblia RiverKolochavaThe Tereblia begins in the Inner Gorgany, where the Roztoka and Sloboda streams meet, and flows through Synevyrska...Cheremosh RiverRiverCheremosh RiverVyzhnytsiaThe Cheremosh is born near Usteriky, where the Chornyi Cheremosh and the Bilyi Cheremosh meet.City lake in KolomyiaLakeCity lake in KolomyiaKolomyiaAfter touring the city, it's a good idea to relax and unwind by the water.Stryi RiverRiverStryi RiverTurkaThe Stryi is one of the largest Carpathian tributaries of the Dniester: 232 km from its source between Mount Yavirnyk...

Mountain ranges: Skole Beskids, Bieszczady. In other countries: 🇭🇺 Börzsöny and Cserhát, 🇸🇰 Volovec Mountains, 🇨🇿 Moravian-Silesian Beskids, 🇷🇴 Bucegi Mountains, 🇸🇰 Western Tatras, 🇭🇺 Bükk, 🇵🇱 Silesian Beskids, 🇸🇰 High Tatras, 🇸🇰 Slovak Ore Mountains, 🇸🇰 Low Tatras, 🇵🇱 Żywiec Beskids, 🇸🇰 Little Carpathians

Trails and peaks near which naturalists recorded the species (GBIF, iNaturalist), matched by altitude and habitat. Sightings are not guaranteed.

Sources

GBIF · iNaturalist · Wikidata · Distribution data: GBIF.org (CC0 and CC BY records), iNaturalist; names and identifiers: Wikidata (CC0). Text: Karpaty.rocks, checked 09.11.2026.