Blackbird feeding behaviour

[AfternoonLemon]

Well it's been one of those days where I'd planned much and achieved little, although I ended up watching the blackbirds out in the garden for a good part of the day. The highest count was 7 at one time, which I've never seen in my garden before. I think it's because this year I've deliberately left pretty much all the fallen apples from my tree for them, and we're talking about 40 scattered about!

Strange thing though - despite there being more then enough to go around, there was some intense battling going on between them. There was a clear pecking order, with one male particularly dominant, so much so that at times he would not tolerate any other bird in the garden with him! Then they'd all be disturbed by someone passing by or something, and he'd usually be the first to return, again chasing other blackbirds off. There were a few of them on the perimeters waiting for their chance, and if he was busy chasing someone off at one end of the garden, they'd swoop down and take their chance!

Here's the strange thing though - at other times he would allow 4 or 5 other birds to eat, even within a few feet of him. Well, that is assuming it's the same bird, it might not have been.

Anyway, this goes against everything I've read about blackbird behaviour, in that they're supposed to be non-territorial in the winter, and re-establish territories in the spring

[Dogghound]

Originally Posted by AfternoonLemon

Anyway, this goes against everything I've read about blackbird behaviour, in that they're supposed to be non-territorial in the winter, and re-establish territories in the spring

This is slightly different in that they are fighting over a food source rather than a territory. Thrushes are very protective over food sources and often squabble. In particular mistle thrush tend to be quite aggressive. Blackbirds can be protective over food and chase other birds away, as you have seen. Resident blackbirds often hold a loose territory during the winter and are far more tolerant of other birds using it. During the spring they become highly territorial and do not accept other blackbirds within the territory. It sounds like you have a resident bird with some migrants.

[AfternoonLemon]

Originally Posted by Dogghound

This is slightly different in that they are fighting over a food source rather than a territory. Thrushes are very protective over food sources and often squabble. In particular mistle thrush tend to be quite aggressive. Blackbirds can be protective over food and chase other birds away, as you have seen. Resident blackbirds often hold a loose territory during the winter and are far more tolerant of other birds using it. During the spring they become highly territorial and do not accept other blackbirds within the territory. It sounds like you have a resident bird with some migrants.

Yeah I suppose it is really the food source rather than the territory, you're right. However, I also tried moving apples to the other side of the garden, thinking that the aggressive bird would be happy with his huge stockpile under the tree - but no!