Editing Common blackbird (section)

{{Short description|Thrush native to Europe, Asia and North Africa}}
{{Pp-move|small=yes}}
{{Speciesbox
| name = Common blackbird
| image = Common Blackbird.jpg
| image_caption = Male ''T. m. merula''
| image2 = Common Blackbird (Turdus merula mauritanicus) female.jpg
| image2_caption = Female ''T. m. mauritanicus''
| status = LC
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| status_ref = <ref name=iucn>{{cite iucn|doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T103888106A87871094.en |title=''Turdus merula'' |author=BirdLife International |author-link=BirdLife International |year=2016 |access-date=25 July 2019}}</ref>
| genus = Turdus
| species = merula
| authority = [[Carl Linnaeus|Linnaeus]], [[10th edition of Systema Naturae|1758]]
| range_map = Common Blackbird ebird data map.png
| range_map_caption = Global range based on reports to [[eBird]]{{leftlegend|#E0CF01|Summer range|outline=gray}}{{leftlegend|#007F00|Year-round range|outline=gray}}{{leftlegend|#0080FF|Winter range|outline=gray}}
}}
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The '''common blackbird''' ('''''Turdus merula''''') is a [[species]] of [[true thrush]]. It is also called the '''Eurasian blackbird''' (especially in North America, to distinguish it from the unrelated [[New World blackbird]]s),<ref name="natgeo">{{cite book |title=Complete Birds of North America |editor1-last=Alderfer |editor1-first=Jonathan |year=2006 |publisher=[[National Geographic Society]] |location=Washington, D.C. |isbn=0-7922-4175-4 |page=489}}</ref> or simply the '''blackbird'''. It breeds in Europe, western Asia, and North Africa, and has been [[introduced species|introduced]] to Australia and New Zealand.<ref>Long, John L. (1981). ''Introduced Birds of the World''. Agricultural Protection Board of Western Australia. pp. 21–493. {{ISBN|9780876633182}}.</ref> It has a number of [[subspecies]] across its large range; a few former Asian subspecies are now widely treated as separate species. Depending on [[latitude]], the common blackbird may be [[Resident bird|resident]], partially [[Bird migration|migratory]], or fully migratory.

The adult male of the common blackbird (''Turdus merula merula'', the [[nominate subspecies]]), which is found throughout most of Europe, is all black except for a yellow eye-ring and [[Beak|bill]] and has a rich, melodious [[Bird vocalization|song]]; the adult female and juvenile have mainly dark brown [[plumage]]. This species breeds in woods and gardens, building a neat, cup-shaped nest, bound together with mud. It is [[omnivorous]], eating a wide range of insects, [[earthworm]]s, [[Berry|berries]], and fruits.

Both sexes are [[territory (animal)|territorial]] on the breeding grounds, with distinctive threat displays, but are more gregarious during migration and in wintering areas. Pairs stay in their territory throughout the year where the climate is sufficiently [[temperate]]. This common and conspicuous species has given rise to a number of literary and cultural references, frequently related to its song.