Blackbird or Song Thrush?

These two get mixed up constantly. Here is what actually separates them, taken from each bird's own page.

Illustration of a blackbird

Blackbird

Turdus merula

Breast pattern. A song thrush has bold, dark, arrow-shaped spots on a creamy-white breast. A female blackbird is plain warm brown and only faintly mottled on the throat — never spotted down the flanks. The thrush is also smaller and more upright.

Illustration of a song thrush

Song Thrush

Turdus philomelos

A female blackbird is dark chocolate-brown all over with vague mottling on the throat only, and is noticeably larger and longer-tailed. A song thrush is paler, warmer brown above and crisply spotted right down the breast and flanks.

Side by side

BlackbirdSong Thrush
Size About 25cm — the reference bird other species get measured against Smaller than a blackbird, about 23cm, neat and compact with a short tail.
Where you'll see it On the lawn, under hedges, in leaf litter, and on the ground below feeders On lawns and borders, and singing from the top of a tree, TV aerial or roof ridge.
What it eats Earthworms and insects in spring; berries and windfall fruit in autumn Earthworms, snails and other invertebrates; berries and windfall fruit in autumn and winter.
When Resident, all year, with continental birds joining in winter Resident all year, with song starting as early as late December and peaking in spring.
Status Green listed Amber listed

Still not sure? Describe what you saw and we will rank every garden bird against it — including these two.

Both descriptions are taken from the species pages, which cite the BTO and RSPB. Reviewed 2026-09-20.