Common blackbird, female

The adult female and juvenile have mainly dark brown plumage. This species breeds in woods and gardens, building a neat, mud-lined, cup-shaped nest. It is omnivorous, eating a wide range of insects, earthworms, berries, and fruits. They spend much of their time looking for food on the ground where they can become infested with ticks.

They prefer deciduous trees with dense undergrowth and also live in gardens. Both sexes are territorial on the breeding grounds.The female is also aggressive in the spring when it competes with other females for a good nesting territory, and although fights are less frequent, they tend to be more violent. Pairs will stay in their territory throughout the year where the climate is sufficiently temperate.