Species: Common blackbird

Blackbirds (Turdus merula), common garden birds in many European countries, are members of the Turdidae family of birds which includes song thrushes. Whilst males are black, females are brown with a slightly speckled chest and a yellowy-brown beak. A distinctive feature of the male blackbird are the orangey-yellow beak and rings around the eyes. They feed on insects, worms and berries and can be recognized by their melodic song.

There is more information about the black or carrion crow (Corvus corone) available on the website of the RSPB.

Disease general

No diseases found.

Research results

• Ongoing Usutu virus epidemic in the Netherlands (15/10/2019)
• Usutu virus: common blackbird mortalities for the third year in a row. (15/08/2018)
• Will the blackbird population survive? (12/09/2017)
• Usutu virus: Rise in number of dead blackbirds being reported (24/07/2017)
• Questions and answers: Usutu virus (24/07/2017)
• Re-emergence of Usutu virus in wild birds in the Netherlands (08/05/2017)
• Hundreds of reports of dead blackbirds (19/10/2016)
• Usutu virus in the Netherlands (15/09/2016)
• Blackbirds and Usutu-virus (18/12/2012)
• Blackbird (Turdus merula) with avian malaria (06/09/2011)

General news

No news found.

Publications

• [Abstract publicatie]: Usutu Virus Infection and Plasmodium Co-Infection in Blackbirds (Turdus Merula) in the Netherlands from 2016 to 2018. Giglia G. , C.B.E.M. Reusken, F. Schaafsma, M.T. Mandara, J. Rijks,R. Sikkema, A. Gröne, M. Koopmans, M.H. Verheije, J.M.A. van den Brand (2020).  Journal of Comparative Pathology, 174, p. 155. doi:10.1016/j.jcpa.2019.10.044
• Genomic monitoring to understand the emergence and spread of Usutu virus in the Netherlands, 2016-2018. Oude Munnink B.B., E. Münger, D.F. Nieuwenhuijse, R. Kohl, A. van der Linden, C.M.E. Schapendonk , H. van der Jeugd, M. Kik, J.M. Rijks, C.B.E.M. Reusken & M. Koopmans. (2020). Scientific Reports, 10(1), 2798.doi:1038/s41598-020-59692-y
• Widespread activity of multiple lineages of Usutu virus, western Europe, 2016. Cadar D., R. Lühken, H. van der Jeugd, M. Garigliany, U. Ziegler, M. Keller, J. Lahoreau, L. Lachmann, N. Becker, M. Kik, B.B. Oude Munnink, S. Bosch, E. Tannich, A. Linden, V. Schmidt, M.P. Koopmans, J. Rijks, D. Desmecht, M.H. Groschup, C. Reusken & J. Schmidt-Chanasit Euro Surveill. 2017;22(4):pii=30452. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2017.22.4.30452 Received:25 November 2016; Accepted:11 January 2017
• Widespread Usutu virus outbreak in birds in the Netherlands, 2016. Rijks J., M. Kik, R. Slaterus , R. Foppen, A. Stroo , J. IJzer, J. Stah, A. Gröne, M. Koopmans,  H. van der Jeugd, C. Reusken (2016).  Euro Surveill. 2016;21(45):pii=30391. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2016.21.45.30391

• No proof for usutuvirus as cause of death in songbirds in the Netherlands (fall 2012)
  Reusken C, Zutt I, Kik M, Cleton N, Rijks J, Schmidt-Chanasit J, Gröne A, Koopmans M, Ijzer J.
  Tijdschr Diergeneeskd. 2014 Mar 1;139(3):28-30.