BRITISH NESTING BIRDS 



BLACKBIRD (Turdus merula) 



Local Names. — Blackie, Black Ousel, Black Thrush, Garden Ousel, 

 Golden Bill, Merle, Oossel, Oussel. 



Haunt. — Woods, copses, plantations, hedgerows, gardens, etc. 



Nesting Period. — March to September. 



Site of Nest. — Bushes, trees, shrubs, hedges, etc. 



Materials Used. — Coarse grass, lined with finer portions; a very- 

 firm structure, strongly woven together with mud and cow dung. 



Eggs. — Generally Five, but sometimes as many as Six. Dusky 

 bluish-green, covered with black or brown spots or patches. 



Food. — Insects, snails, earthworms, and fruit. 



Voice. — The song of the Blackbird is both mellow and measured. 

 The notes are quite unlike those of the Thrush, which are short, 

 quick, and extremely varied. There is little variation in the 

 song of the Merle. Sometimes, however, the notes are light and 

 buoyant, at others solemn and vesper-like. The metallic alarm 

 note may be likened to " chink, chink." 



Chief Features. — A restless species; does not flock in Winter like 

 many of its relatives ; flies low. An early songster, commencing 

 in February. Belongs to the Thrush family. 



Plumage. — Male bird jet black with an orange beak, female much 

 lighter, and has a dusky beak. Length. — Ten inches. The young 

 are spotted, and may be mistaken for a dark variety of the 

 Song Thrush. 



BLACKCAP (Sylvia atricapilla) 



Local Names. — Blackcap Warbler, Blackie Topper, Fauvette, 

 Guernsey Nightingale, Haychat, Hay Jack, Jack Saw, Mock 

 Nightingale, Nettle Creeper, Nettle Monger. 



Haunt. — Woods, copses, large gardens, and hedgerows. 



Nesting Period. — May and June. 



Site of Nest. — A bramble or wild rose bush, also a low hedge. 



Materials Used. — Fine and also coarse grasses, fibrous roots, with a 

 lining of fine roots and hair. The webs of spiders are used on 

 occasions for binding nest together. A frail but neat nest. 



Eggs. — Four to Six. Ground colour yellow, brownish, or reddish, 

 blotched, spotted, and streaked with dark brown. 



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