Blackbird

Turdus merula

Blackbirds can usually be spotted hopping on the ground searching for tasty insects and worms. When fruits and berries burst into season they have another food source to enjoy. Birds do not have teeth, so they do not chew their food. They swallow it whole or in large pieces, sometimes using their beaks to break it into smaller portions. To aid in the breakdown of food, birds have a specialised, muscular part of their stomach known as the gizzard, which crushes and grinds the food, often assisted by small stones or grit that the birds intentionally swallows.

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