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.

[alisoneliz]

I have had the same Blackbird living in and around my garden for at least 9 years. I know it's been about this long, as she was around when i had my last dog, who died 8 years ago come January, and she used to chase her. She is distinctive because she has alot of white feathers which are increasing with age. When i go out into the garden, especially in the winter, she always appears somewhere, almost asking for food. She generally has two sets of chicks every year, although i've only noticed one set this year. Is this an unusual age for a Blackbird?

[Dorts]

It is usefull to know that when a Hen Blackbird reaches her third year her beak turns orange, a good indicator to her age, (most hen Blackbird's bird's beaks are brown showing their young age). As has been said, average lifespan of 3 years, mainly because of the dangers about.

Many thousands of Blackbirds are hit by cars every year when they are feeding young. The desire of the bird to keep the young fed overtakes all other considerations, including the dangers of traffic, and as they fly from one hedgerow to the other, they are hit.

I know of Blackbirds in captivity having regularly lived for over ten years.
All small birds would live much longer if natural and un-natural dangers were removed.
Dorts.

[RKB]

Originally Posted by 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!)

You read that wrongly, the oldest Blackbird was 14 years and 2 months. As many juveniles die quickly, this skews the average age measure. If you only look at territorial blackbirds after their first winter, i.e. those that got established, then the average age for them and many other small birds is higher than many people think. Plenty of Blue Tits live for 4-5 years, and 6-8 isn't that unusual. One of the reasons that young birds actually die quickly is because older birds haven't died to make way for them - there's only so much space to go round, and youngsters can only survive if a territory becomes vacant (territory = access to food).