how long do blackbirds live?

[Bub-les]

I have a friendly female blackbird who visits my garden every day. Her mate often comes as well but she is the braver one and will come quite close. Since I seem to have had the same blackbird for three springs I wondered how long they live. I must admit that I'm not sure if this one is the same as previously. It may be a daughter whose learnt mum's tricks.



Barbara

[Rob_D]

well according to the BTO bird facts BTO BirdFacts - Blackbird typical lifespan 3 years, max recorded age 4 years 12m (ie 5 years!)

So it sounds like your pair are getting long in the tooth, or more likely beak.

Bird books don't often quote lifespans - they can be really surprising. Robins typically only live 2 years, whereas Albert the albatross (if he's still alive) is estimated to be at least 47.

[Kyte]

On average 3 to 4 years, as a rule of thumb the bigger the bird the longer it`s life span so a Golden Eagle or a Whit-Tailed Sea Eagle will live ten times longer than a Blackbird this is why they are generally into there 3rd or 4th year`s before they start breeding.

[Rob_D]

Originally Posted by Kyte

as a rule of thumb the bigger the bird the longer it`s life span

I think that holds truer for mammals than it does for birds. There are many counter-examples in the British avian world. WT Eagles 9yrs 7mths max and Mute Swans 7 years average are actually quite short-lived - but puffins, typical 44 years, arctic terns max 28 years, lapwings 19 years max all live much longer. (figures from BTO).

[suepc]

We have a tame female blackbird that we first 'got to know', as an adult, in the summer of 2004. She turns up every spring when she has a brood to feed & is very good at 'spotting' us in the house & making her presence known. If we're outside in the garden, she will come up to us to ask us for food. She's showing her age this year — her feathers aren't as sleek as they used to be — but she must be at least 5 years old now.

OK, we can't be 100% sure that she's the same one — but her beak is quite distinctively coloured & the way she turns up & demands food, especially when we haven't seen her for months over the winter, makes us fairly sure she is.

[mrs fish]

Originally Posted by Rob_D

I think that holds truer for mammals than it does for birds. There are many counter-examples in the British avian world. WT Eagles 9yrs 7mths max and Mute Swans 7 years average are actually quite short-lived - but puffins, typical 44 years, arctic terns max 28 years, lapwings 19 years max all live much longer. (figures from BTO).

There is a local swan who is at least 12 I know because he is ringed, he was caught by the rspca when I reported him with fishing line trailing from his mouth and that was about 12 years ago and he still has his mate

[Rob_D]

That's nice to hear. Must be good to think you helped him live a long and happy life. Some birds beat the average by a long way, but most are unfortunate and don't get a chance to die of old age.