Being so obvious such examples no doubt have a very restricted lifespan. Throughout the winter up to a dozen blackbirds are resident in our garden. A high proportion are young birds, the males showing blackish rather than orange bills. Ever alert and sprightly, blackbirds run and hop quickly, typically advancing a few yards and then pausing. Often tame, spending long periods in open gardens, the species is really skulking in behaviour given to sudden panic and a noisy retreat into dense cover.
Flight is usually low and for short distances only.
Blackbirds may be found in a wide range of habitats including dense woodland, coastal sand-dunes, farmland, minute marsh carrs and town and city centres. Almost three-quarters of the blackbirds breeding in this country may be resident. Their places here are occupied by migrants from Scandinavia, Denmark and Germany. Largely nocturnal travellers, on many occasions during October I have watched blackbirds arriving just above the wavetops before taking a dramatic plummeting dive into the nearest cover. In northern Europe more females than males migrate since males are more aggressive and territorial.