How to welcome the Eurasian Blackbird in London, England, United Kingdom

About the Eurasian Blackbird

The common blackbird is a species of true thrush. It is also known as the Eurasian blackbird, 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.

Source: Wikipedia

Ecological traits of the Eurasian Blackbird

• Nesting : semi-open nest box nester.
• Preferred feeder food : ground feeder, fresh fruit.

Matching nest box plan

For the Eurasian Blackbird, the reference plan from nichoirs.net is:

Recommended internal dimensions: 200 × 200 × 200 mm (width × height × depth).

Entrance hole diameter: 150×150 mm.

See the full plan on nichoirs.net

Installing and maintaining the nest box — Eurasian Blackbird

Installation

• Height : 1.5 m to 3 m
• Orientation : East or South-East, not exposed to dominant winds. The nest box should lean slightly forward.
• Support : Wall, securely fixed. Avoid nearby branches or ledges to prevent predator access.
• When to install : From autumn or early winter. At the latest in March or April.
• Precautions : Choose a quiet location. The nest box should not be exposed to direct sunlight all day, nor be in permanent shade, but partially shaded during hot hours. A distance of 200 m is recommended between two identical nest boxes for the White Wagtail but this distance is not documented for other species. No perch. Do not place any bedding (straw, moss) inside. Check for overwintering inhabitants before cleaning.

Annual cleaning

• Frequency : 1x/year
• Method : Empty accumulated materials, brush the bottom with a wire brush, use a blowtorch to destroy parasites. In case of heavy infestation, rinse with clear water, possibly with a little soda lye, then let it dry thoroughly.
• Products to avoid : Never use chemical products or disinfectants, nor insecticides or anti-flea treatments.
• When to install : Late September or early October (after the breeding season). If not done, possibly before the nesting period, in early spring, just before the birds start nesting (February).
• Precautions : Unhatched eggs can only be removed between September and January (or August and January in Scotland). Part of the nest box (roof, front or side) must be removable to facilitate cleaning. Wear gloves. Make sure it is not occupied by other species (bats, dormice, bees, wasps, hornets) before cleaning. Parasites may be present even in winter.

Sources: LPO, Natagora, Vogelbescherming, RSPB, NABU, nichoirs.net.

Three ways to help

• Install a nest box — Free species-tailored construction plans and video tutorials.
• Install a feeder — Choose the feeder and seeds based on the bird's feeding habits.
• Grow a natural pantry — Native local plants that sustainably feed this bird and biodiversity.

Other birds observed in London

• Common Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs)
• Eurasian Scops-Owl (Otus scops)
• Eurasian Blue Tit (Cyanistes caeruleus)
• Goldcrest (Regulus regulus)
• Eurasian Pygmy-Owl (Glaucidium passerinum)
• Tawny Owl (Strix aluco)

Sources and credits

• Observation data: eBird (Cornell Lab of Ornithology, ebird.org)
• Source: Wikipedia
• Plans and dimensions: nichoirs.net