A male blackbird in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, has developed a distinctive song that has become a personal earworm for a local resident. The bird, which sings from the top of a conifer tree, performs a unique four-note phrase that descends the scale and ends on a minor note. This refrain is part of a larger repertoire of dozens of motifs, delivered with confidence after years of practice.
The blackbird's musical development
Like all musicians, the blackbird started as a shy apprentice, quietly practising to perfect his preferred combination of notes. Last season, his song may have gone unnoticed because it was unfinished. This year, he has refined and locked in his signature phrases, confident enough in his territory to sing them loudly and proudly. The observer imagines the wordless 'yes' the bird must feel when his routine feels right, akin to the satisfaction of writing or painting.
Uniqueness of each blackbird's song
Each male blackbird builds his own setlist from scratch, averaging 44 distinct motifs per bird. They copy from each other and incorporate environmental sounds, including mimicking other birds. A trip to the east of town revealed blackbirds with songs resembling ringing telephones and car alarms, highlighting that those were not 'my blackbird.' The joy of returning home to the familiar refrain marked a deeper, more personal relationship than previously felt with a bird.
The impending silence of summer
This precious song will soon end as summer concludes. Breeding stops and birds enter a reclusive moult, leading to a great silence. It may be six months or more before the blackbird sings again. In a culture accustomed to instant gratification, this seasonal absence holds something sacred.
