Eurasian Blackbird

[Abhishek Jamalabad]

Eurasian Blackbird Turdus merula (Peninsular subspecies T.m.nigropileus) | April 2016, Mahabaleshwar, Maharashtra.

Tried some forest bird photography after a long long time, and was greeted by this, one of my favourite birds (in addition to my first Indian mouse deer, which I failed to photograph, at the same spot.) This image was clicked from an elevated point that gave me a view of the canopy and understorey.

The peninsular subspecies of the Eurasian blackbird inhabits hill forests, and can be seen most often just under the canopy, although it frequently forages on the ground and in shrubbery. What I find most amazing about this species is its vocal repertoire. It vocalises throughout the day, but its songs are most noticeable when it sings post-sunset, well after dark.

Nikon D3100, Nikkor 70-300 ED VR
SS 1/250
Av 5.6
ISO 1600
Some basic editing and noise reduction in Lightroom
Full frame

Thanks, C&C welcome.

[Roopak Gangadharan]

nice image of the male abhishek. good eye contact . agree that the calls of this bird are awe inspiring. Wish Macartney had stuck to his original source of inspiration instead of adding racial colour in keeping with the times.

" Black bird singing in the dead of night
Take these sunken eyes and learn to see
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to be free..

TFS
Roopak

[Sabyasachi Patra]

Nice image. The eye has come out well. Have you recorded its vocalisation?

Roopak,
For some people the lyrics of Paul McCartney had a very personal resonance. Fortunately today the time have changed a bit and racism is atleast not as open as it used to be. Wish Paul McCartney while doing live events had played the visuals of the bird. Normally they play some graphics to indicate trees.

Cheers,
Sabyasachi

[Abhishek Jamalabad]

Thanks Sabyasachi and Roopak,
Yes, I recorded a 3 minute video of this individual vocalising. My internet connectivity is too bad to upload the video right now.

[Mrudul Godbole]

Nice to see some bird images from you :). Good you could get it mostly in the clear. Liked the eye contact. Thanks for sharing.

[Abhishek Jamalabad]

Audio here - http://www.indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?17466-Eurasian-Blackbird-(T-m-nigropileus)&p=79704#post79704