Baby Blackbirds: All You Need To Know (With Pictures)

The term “blackbird” has become a collective term for many birds that are predominantly black thrushes.However, when we talk about blackbirds, we probably think of the common blackbird, a true thrush from Tortoise Branch family.There are many blackbirds that look alike Wasps family, including the common North American red-winged blackbird, but they are hardly related to their European counterparts!

Blackbirds are common garden birds in most parts of the world, but what about smaller blackbirds? This is a guide for the little black bird. Of course, there will be plenty of pictures of baby blackbirds along the way!

What does the little black bird look like?

at birth

Baby blackbirds are born late, naked, with tufts of downy feathers. These birds are blind and small in size, only a few centimeters long. They are able to wriggle, but cannot move around the nest for at least a few days. Baby blackbirds open their yellow beaks, which they present to their parents for feeding.

Blackbird chicks recently hatched in the nest

Three young blackbird chicks

growth and development

Blackbird pups grow exceptionally rapidly, reaching 50 to 60 percent of their adult body weight within the first ten days. After a few days, the fluffy, downy feathers begin to grow, giving the 7-day-old chicks a slightly rounded appearance.

After 12 to 14 days, the chicks are ready to develop their wings, but they can survive outside the nest in as little as 9 days. Blackbirds keep their young for about eight months and usually breed in the upcoming breeding season.

How big is the little black bird?

Little blackbirds are small, only a few centimeters long and weigh only 2 to 4 grams.

Like most songbirds, little blackbirds are born late, meaning they are completely blind and mostly undeveloped. Newly hatched birds require constant attention and can barely regulate their body temperature for 2 to 3 days. But, of course, young blackbirds grow so fast that by the time their wings mature, the young blackbirds reach 50 to 60 percent of their adult body weight.

Hungry blackbird chick in the nest

How much does the little black bird weigh?

Baby blackbirds weigh around 2.75 to 3.25 grams at birth, less than 5p a piece.

At birth, chicks weigh less than 5% of their adult body weight, or around 100 grams. Young blackbirds grow rapidly, reaching about 3/4 of their adult body weight before fledging.

What do juvenile blackbirds look like?

Juvenile blackbirds are medium-light brown spotted with reddish breasts and bellies. They are easily confused with many other juvenile songbirds.

Also, for the first eight months or so, both males and females look alike, until the males swap out their juvenile brown plumage for black plumage. Female adult blackbirds are difficult to distinguish from juveniles because they have similar reddish-brown plumage.

Juvenile blackbirds are rounder and fluffier than adults. Their downy feathers gradually replace over 6 to 10 months.

juvenile blackbird

What is the name of the little black bird?

The little black bird has no specific name. Like most baby birds, little blackbirds are often simply called chicks.

Like other birds, the different stages of development of the little blackbird have different names. Immediately after hatching, the little blackbird is called hatching.

When the little blackbirds remain in the nest, they are called fledglings. Once they leave the nest, they are called fledglings. Eventually, the little blackbirds become juveniles and then adults.

What do little black birds eat?

Blackbird chicks eat the food their parents bring them, which is almost exclusively mollusk invertebrates, insects and arthropods. Although blackbirds are omnivores, young birds are unable to digest most seeds and berries before fledging. Insects provide the high-fat, high-energy food that young birds need to grow.

Parents feed the chicks a variety of worms, beetles, grasshoppers, flies, and spiders, which sometimes partially regurgitate and insert themselves into the chicks’ open mouths. Parents feed the chicks multiple times an hour for most of the day.

Female blackbird feeds chicks a worm in the nest

Do both parents feed chicks?

Both male and female blackbirds feed their young. In some cases, females will feed more, while in other cases, males will do most of the feeding duties. This seems to vary by region and nest.

Once the chicks are fully fledged, the male continues to feed them, if possible, for about two to three weeks, while the female prepares them for the next hatch. Blackbirds are strong on bonds and often last a lifetime.

How do blackbirds feed their chicks?

Adult blackbirds feed their chicks by placing whole food in the young’s open mouth.

Arthropods and invertebrates make up the majority of a chick’s diet, at least for the first week or so. Parents may regurgitate some food into the chicks’ mouths.

Invertebrates such as molluscs and worms are essential during breeding season – these easy-to-digest foods are rich in nutritious fats and energy.

Male blackbird taking care of chicks

What do blackbird eggs look like?

Blackbird eggs are pale green or blue, with large brown to red spots covering most of their surface. They measure approximately 29 x 22 mm.

black bird eggs in nest

How long does it take for a blackbird egg to hatch?

The average incubation time for blackbird eggs is about 13 to 14 days, although longer incubation times of 19 days have been observed in colder regions.

In the UK, the average incubation period is 13 to 14 days. It’s a similar story for most North American blackbirds — red-winged blackbirds also have an average incubation time of about 13 days. The females are usually nest-guarded by the males, but occasionally males have been observed incubating their eggs.

How many children does Blackbird have?

Blackbirds lay an average of 3 to 5 eggs, with older individuals laying more eggs in woodland habitats.

If blackbirds only have one clutch per year, they won’t have enough clutches to keep the population stable, hence why female blackbirds usually lay at least two, if not three or even four clutches per year!

Blackbirds have a short lifespan, and they have learned to reproduce and build nests quickly to maintain high population numbers. Over 50% of the nests in some areas fail, so the blackbirds have to try, and if it doesn’t work try again!

A fledgling common black bird calls to be fed

When do blackbirds lay eggs?

In the UK, blackbirds lay their eggs during the traditional spring breeding season, which runs from March to July.

Depending on the weather, most thrushes wait until April to lay their first brood. Subsequent clutches are placed in May, June and July. Blackbirds rarely lay eggs in August.

In North America, the breeding season is almost the same as in the UK. Blackbirds in Canada and the northernmost states of the United States typically wait until late April or May, while those further south often breed earlier.

Eurasian blackbird feeding a fledgling chick with strawberries

How long does the little black bird stay with its parents?

Young blackbirds leave the nest for feathering after about 12 to 14 days, but may leave sooner after 9 days. This is only possible if the nest is disturbed.

Once fledgling, the young birds usually shuffle to a nearby branch or bush, where they remain for another week or so until they can fly with confidence. In some cases, parental feeding can last up to three weeks. During this time, little black birds can often be seen chasing their parents to beg for food.