Blackbirds are common garden birds. Understanding their varied diet, which shifts with seasonal availability, helps appreciate their role in local ecosystems and support their well-being.
Main Dietary Components
Blackbirds are omnivores, consuming both animal and plant matter. Their diet primarily consists of invertebrates and a variety of fruits, berries, and seeds. Earthworms are a substantial part of their diet, particularly during warmer months, and they also consume beetles, caterpillars, spiders, slugs, and snails. This animal matter provides essential protein, especially important during the breeding season.
Beyond invertebrates, blackbirds readily eat various plant-based foods. They forage for berries such as rowan, hawthorn, holly, and ivy. Apples and other soft fruits are also part of their diet. While they do consume seeds and grains, their soft bills mean they prefer these without hard shells, such as flaked maize or rolled oats.
Adapting to the Seasons
In spring and summer, their diet is predominantly protein-rich animal matter. Earthworms, caterpillars, and other insects are abundant during these months and are crucial for feeding hungry nestlings, which require a high-protein diet for growth. Blackbirds nesting in woodland areas may consume more caterpillars, while those in suburban areas often rely heavily on earthworms.
As autumn arrives and moves into winter, the availability of invertebrates decreases. Blackbirds then shift their focus to plant matter, with berries and fruits becoming a major component of their diet, sometimes making up over 60% during colder periods. They seek out persistent berries and fallen fruits like apples and pears to build up fat reserves, which provide the energy needed to endure the colder months.
Finding Food and Water
Blackbirds primarily forage for food on the ground. They employ a distinctive “run-stop-run” pattern, often tilting their head to listen for the subtle movements of worms or insects beneath the surface. Once prey is detected, they use their sharp bills to probe precisely into the soil or turn over leaf litter to uncover hidden invertebrates. They are known to clean slugs by wiping them on the ground before consumption.
Blackbirds also require regular access to water for drinking and bathing, typically found in puddles or bird baths. Ensure water is fresh and clean, especially during dry or freezing conditions.
When attracting blackbirds to gardens, avoid certain foods such as bread, dry hard seed mixes, salty or processed foods, milk, desiccated coconut, and moldy food, as these can be harmful or lack nutritional value. They prefer food scattered on the ground or on low platforms rather than hanging feeders.