Common Blackbird vs Bassian Thrush
Turdus merula compared with Zoothera lunulata
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Common Blackbird | Bassian Thrush |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Turdus merula | Zoothera lunulata |
| Order | Passeriformes | Passeriformes |
| Family | Turdidae | Turdidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | 25.0 cm (9.8 in) | — |
| Wingspan | 36.0 cm (14.2 in) | 26.7 cm (10.5 in) |
| Weight | 100.0 g (3.53 oz) | 114.0 g (4.02 oz) |
| Diet | Earthworms, insects, berries, and fruit. Forages on the ground, turning over leaf litter. Famously pulls … | -- |
| Clutch Size | 3-5 | 2-3 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Common Blackbird
Woodland, hedgerows, gardens, and parks. One of the most common garden birds across Europe.
Song & Call Comparison
Common Blackbird
Arguably Britain's finest songster: rich, flute-like phrases with deep, mellow quality. Sings persistently at dusk. Alarm is a sharp 'chook-chook'. Song includes liquid 'pew' notes.
Bassian Thrush
Geographic Range & Migration
Common Blackbird
Europe, Asia, and North Africa. Introduced to Australia and New Zealand. Northern populations are migratory.
Bassian Thrush
Conservation Status
Common Blackbird
Bassian Thrush
How to Tell Them Apart
Common Blackbird
Males are jet black with a bright yellow-orange bill and eye-ring. Females are dark brown with mottled underparts and a dull yellowish bill.
Bright yellow-orange bill in males, dull brownish in females
Bassian Thrush
About These Birds
Common Blackbird
The common blackbird is one of Europe's most familiar and best-loved songbirds, celebrated for its rich, fluting song delivered from rooftop and treetop perches at dawn and dusk. Originally a shy woodland bird, it has colonized urban environments over the past two centuries and become one of the most successful urban adapters.
Bassian Thrush
The Bassian Thrush is a ground-dwelling thrush of the family Turdidae found in moist forests, gullies, and rainforest across southeastern Australia and Tasmania. Weighing about 114g with a wingspan of 26.7cm, it has scalloped brown-and-buff plumage providing excellent camouflage on the forest floor. It feeds on earthworms, insects, and other invertebrates found in leaf litter.