Strange Blackbird behaviour...!

[viognier]

Not strictly British but........

Last week I witnessed something extraordinary whilst on holiday in Caiscais, near Lisbon.

I was lounging by the hotel pool when a Blackbird flew across the pool and, I assume accidentally, dropped whatever was in it’s beak into the pool. The bird flew on seemingly unbothered by its lost cargo. Being far too comfortable to investigate waited until I was ready for a dip then swam across to see what it was. My wife and I had assumed it to be a beak full of grasshoppers or suchlike.

I got a shock when I found it to be a chick. It was not a fledgling but had only a line of premature feathers right down its back and a few tufts on each wing. Sadly it was dead.

I have to say that I have never seen a Blackbird ( and I do mean Turdus merula and not just a black bird ) carrying a chick before, after all why would it? Nor have I known one steal another bird’s chick this way.

Any thoughts? any one

[pegasus]

Hi---was it blackbird chick? I guess it may have found the dead chick on the ground and i think a blackbird will eat most things.{ i know i do!} There may be more dramatic explaination of course

[bobbarber]

Hello Viognier,welcome to the forum, a very interesting observation. Could it be dumping one of it`s own dead chicks in the same way as they dump fecal sacs away from the nest area. Iv`e never heard of it, so it`s just a thought...Bob

[FUDGEY]

or perhaps it is doing the same as the swallow and little ringed plover that springwatch have caught on film in the last year. Male bird dies that has had young so a new male comes in and kills the young so the female mates with him?

[viognier]

Three very plausible and very different suggestions!!
Thanks for those......

[valleyforge]

I believe bobbarber is on the right track here ... parent birds, including blackbirds, will discard any nestling that dies, well away from the nest.

Blackbirds can have quite large clutches, and so often the last to hatch can struggle to compete for food brought by the parents, and consequently are the most vurnerable to perinatal death.

Blackbirds don't predate other nests, nor do they as a general rule (I've never witnessed it, nor read about it occurring) eat carrion.

[Jonners]

My thoughts would be with Bob and Valley Forge. They will clear anything out of their nest that needs tidying away, even dead youngsters!

[viognier]

Thanks to bob, valleyforge and jonners. It makes perfect sense. I guess it just dropped the poor schmo in the pool en route to somewhere as it was too heavy. I fished it out and put it under a nearby bush. It was gone the next day; either a diligent cleaner or a meal for a mouse I guess.

thanks to all for ideas.