Who Dyed This Robin Black?

I watched this sweet little Common Blackbird picking berries off the tree just outside the window, feathers ruffled to keep out the chill (it's 52 degrees and raining). I'd caught glimpses of this bird before, but couldn't place it; I first thought of a starling because of the approximate size and the dark color and yellow bill tucked among the leaves, but I knew I was wrong. A closer look: my sweet, familiar American Robin, turned black! The two look so alike, down to the way the wing feathers scallop just so over the back.

It's the Common Blackbird, the bird baked into storied pies, immortalized in Beatles' song, a member of the thrush family (Turdidae) just like our American Robin. (It's not closely related to American blackbirds like the Red-Winged Blackbird, which are in another family altogether.)

Thrushes are well-known for their mellifluous song. My favorite birdsong of all is the ethereal, flute-like web of sound spun by the Hermit Thrush, which you can listen to here. (Incidentally, one of the most mind-blowing things I've ever heard is thrush song, greatly slowed-down. You would expect to hear nonsense, but instead you hear intricate jazzy melodies, so improbably in line with human jazz sensibilities. To listen, go here and click on "Slowing Down the Sounds.") Looking forward to blackbird song come springtime!

By the way, I wonder if this bird is a little old - check out the white spots around the cheek! Put those tweezers away, Sandya!