The common blackbird, or European Blackbird (Turdus merula), is a widespread species whose longevity is highly variable, ranging from a few weeks to over two decades. This lifespan is shaped by constant environmental pressures and chance.
Average Survival Expectations
The average life expectancy for a wild blackbird that survives its first year is brief, typically falling between 2.4 and 3.4 years. This figure is common for small passerine birds, which compensate for high losses through rapid reproduction. The greatest challenge occurs immediately after hatching, as roughly 50% of all blackbird nests fail before the chicks fledge.
Only 37% of young birds that successfully leave the nest are estimated to survive long enough to reach adulthood and breed. Once a blackbird passes this initial high-risk period, the year-on-year survival rate for an adult improves. However, this rate still only ranges from approximately 40% to 70%.
Causes of Mortality
The low average lifespan is largely attributable to predation, which is a major factor in the wild environment. Domestic cats have a significant impact, especially in suburban areas where blackbirds forage on the ground. Natural predators like sparrowhawks and corvids, such as magpies and crows, also target eggs and vulnerable nestlings, contributing heavily to early-life mortality.
Environmental factors pose a constant threat, particularly harsh winters or periods of drought. Severe weather leads to a lack of accessible food sources, such as earthworms and insects, which are the blackbird’s primary diet. Urban settings introduce additional dangers, including collisions with vehicles while foraging near roads or flying into windows. The use of garden chemicals and pesticides also indirectly affects blackbird health by reducing insect populations.
Documented Maximum Lifespans
While the average blackbird lives for only a few years, exceptional individuals demonstrate the species’ potential for longevity. Through bird banding and ringing programs, researchers have documented a maximum recorded age for a wild common blackbird of 21 years and 10 months. This record illustrates that biological aging is not the primary factor limiting the species’ lifespan.
This significant gap between average and maximum age suggests that blackbirds have the physical capacity for a long life if they consistently avoid external threats. In protected environments, such as captivity, blackbirds have been known to survive for up to 20 years, confirming their inherent hardiness. Individuals that achieve advanced ages in the wild must possess a combination of good fortune and superior ability to secure resources and evade predators.