A common garden, woodland, and farmland thrush; all-black male unique, the female darker than any other brown thrush. Raises tail on landing, gives loud, hysterical rattle of alarm. Not found in flocks.

Large presence in and around gardens, town parks, woodland edges, tall trees, and farmland with hedges. It draws attention to itself by its loud, persistent, and sometimes irritating alarm notes, and for its sudden outburst when scared into flight and, much more welcome, its beautiful song. The Blackbird has the most ‘musical’ song in our terms, with beautifully modulated notes and phrases.