DARK-SUITED MINSTREL

As days begin to lengthen, and winter’s icy chill recedes, the garden starts to echo with the sweet trill of birdsong. Resident all year round, the blackbird, Turdus merula, is one of the most common UK birds, and its mellow warble can be heard in full chorus as early as the first week in March. The birds begin to sing during the afternoon and early evening, with gentle notes unfolding high in the trees and permeating the stillness of the cool air. Spring is the start of the breeding season, and blackbirds will often sing to defend their territories, particularly in smaller areas, such as gardens. They can sometimes be heard in the morning, contributing to the dawn chorus. Their sweet serenade is usually overwhelmed by other songs as the season progresses and evenings come to belong to the song thrush.