Albino blackbirds are not uncommon and most simply have white patches. Completely white individuals seldom survive, as they are more conspicuous to predators.

Physical description
Blackbirds are 25cm in length. Males are jet-black with a bright yellow beak and eye-ring. Females have brown plumage with a brown beak and juveniles are mottled, with a rufous hue.

Distribution
They range across Europe, North Africa and parts of Asia. Blackbirds have been introduced to New Zealand and Australia.

Habitat
Their typical habitat is forest, scrub, gardens and parks.

Diet
Blackbirds forage for insects and worms, as well as feeding on berries and fruit.

Behaviour
They spend a lot of time on the ground searching for food, but they sing from a prominent perch. They are highly territorial during the breeding season.

Reproduction
Blackbirds utilise a variety of nest sites including trees, bushes, hedges and buildings, or may even nest directly on the ground. The female builds the nest from sticks, twigs and leaves, and lines it with mud and grass. She normally lays four or five eggs, which are incubated for 12-15 days.

The chicks are fed by both parents for two weeks in the nest, and then looked after for a further three weeks.

Conservation status
Blackbirds are not considered to be globally threatened and are one of the commonest birds in Britain, with a recent estimate of 4,400,000 pairs. There may have been about a 33 per cent decline over the last 25 years.

Voice
Blackbirds are noisy birds, especially during roosting time when they emit a loud dik-dik-dik. They have a loud and pleasing warbling flute-like song, and a noisy chatter when disturbed.