Common blackbird (Turdus merula)

Common blackbird (Turdus merula) is a beautiful pigeon-size bird, that is (oh, what a surprise!) completely black. At least the male is. Females are dark brown, with lighter breast parts (that part is often covered with brown spots). Blackbird is very common in continental Croatia, in Zagreb it can often be seen in parks an gardens, and is not very shy!
Their food includes invertebrates, fruit and berries, but they will not turn down chopped fat, especially in the harsh winter months!
Their size is 11.5 inches in average. They make cup-sized nests in well hidden places, where the females lay 3-5 greenish-blue eggs.

A male blackbird eating breadcrumbs. Zagreb, february 2012