Why do blackbirds fight

This was not just a noisy airborne squabble. This was vicious, on the ground, prolonged physical contact. It really looked as if one might even kill the other. After a good 3 or 4 minutes of this struggle, a magpie flew down next to them and broke the fight up, looking for all the world like a policeman dealing with a couple of pugnacious drunks on a Saturday night.

One blackbird then flew off out of sight, whilst the other only flew a few yards and put on a show of carefully studied, but slightly flustered, normality. I presume the magpie was attracted by the commotion and hoped it might get a chance to attack an injured bird. Its behaviour made sense, even if it was precipitate and therefore counter-productive. But what was likely to be behind the female blackbirds' behaviour? Was one "confused" as Al Murray might put it?

Were they fighting for territory, or for the attention of the nearby male? Might it even have been a mother chasing off a stay-at-home teenager still demanding food? Is this actually perfectly normal and common behaviour, showing I've spent most of my life with my eyes closed? DaveN Derwent Valley Birder. It might be just a territorial thing like you mention. I think birds have been more territorial than ever with the recent cold spell as food has been harder to find.

I seen a similar thing the other week in our garden when a Song Thrush and a Blackbird were seemingly fighting to the death. Peewit Once a bird lover I see the way the blackbirds have been behaving now in my own back garden.

It is although the Blackies are going into breeding mode now - this is the time of year for nesting for them. The Males are sizing each other up and hoping parallel to one another, and the females are doing much the same.

It is the fight of the fittest from what I can see. I have only seen an odd 'Blackie' tiff but nothing nasty yet. I understand in the Blackbird world the females fight each other for territory and the Males do the same with the males.

The males rarely ever attack the females who are invading their patch. The males enjoy chasing after the females but maybe that is part of the courtship ritual, or who is boss of who.

Now that the snow has gone the Blackbirds are in breeding mode form my guess and they want to nest now the bad weather set them back a little. So I think we all will be seeing more Blackie misunderstandings in the next few months. I have heard a Male Blackie singing so it show that spring is in the air now. Let it be that happening. Last edited: Feb 16, Cyclops 1 eyed tree hugging nature nut! Nice bit of natural history you viewed there!

This is true birdwatching. Most birds will endeavour to prevent other birds from occupying their "home" and its surrounding area. They are defending their territory and staking their claim on the nest sites, building materials and food in that territory. This behaviour is most noticeable during the breeding season and is predominantly targeted at other birds of the same species or species with similar diets, such as is the case with Robins attacking Dunnocks.

Territories are defended at other times of the year though, such as in the winter when food is in short supply. In Australia and New Zealand it is considered a pest and has an effect on natural ecosystems.

Juveniles are slightly lighter brown than female birds and very young juvenile birds have somewhat speckled chests.

They are omnivorous, eating a wide range of insects, earthworms, seeds and berries. They nest in bushes or similar, laying several usually 4 bluish- green-grey eggs with brown reddish marks in a neat cup-shaped nest. They do not form flocks, although several birds, especially migrants, may be loosely associated in a suitable habitat. Female blackbirds are especially fierce in the spring when they compete and fight with each other for a good nesting territory.

Male birds are also competitive and will protect their territory by chasing away other males. If a fight between male Blackbirds does occur it is usually short and the intruder is soon chased away. The male sings its varied and melodious song from trees, rooftops or other elevated perches.