Blackbirds.............

doctor_feelgood · #1 (**permalink**) 25-05-2011, 06:11 PM

A pair of blackbirds close by have nested and we have two fat chick in our garden - I guess the others either died of didn't hatch. Anyway, they can fly reasonably well and alternate gardens every other day or so. I'm fairly sure that just the male tends and feeds the chicks however, I have seen tw omales feeding them, not together but I know it's two different males as one has a discoloured lover mandible and the other doesn't.

Is it usual for two males to collaborate with chicks?

Also, when the chicks first appeared anout ten days ago, they were quite small (they've now doubled in size, as I would expect. I dont know if this is commonplace however, when the ywere small and the male flew down to feed them, a cheeky sparrow flow in between then to dupe the male into feeding the sparrow! Common sparrow behaviour?

Last but not least, I saw a female appear (parent?) and the male was quite incensed at her presence - again, usual behaviour?

All fun to watch, too............!

doctor_feelgood · #2 (**permalink**) 26-05-2011, 05:15 PM

44 views and no opinions?

rossy · #3 (**permalink**) 26-05-2011, 05:26 PM

any chance of a photo, as blackbirds are very terrortorial, cant help feeling one is the female, rossy.

doctor_feelgood · #4 (**permalink**) 26-05-2011, 07:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rossy

any chance of a photo, as blackbirds are very terrortorial, cant help feeling one is the female, rossy.

Even I know the difference between male and female blackbirds!

There are definitely two males, both black (not brown) and both have yellow bills, one of which has a discoloured lower mandible, the other doesn't.