Tuesday 4 August 2015

No Tail.

Not a very common sight ... a Blackbird with no tail. I took this photo through my mother's kitchen window about a month ago and today she confirmed that this individual is still visiting her garden. So the lack of tail feathers does not appear to be impeding its survival.

All indications are that he is going through his normal post breeding moult but it doesn't explain the total lack of a tail but there is the possibility that one of the local felines might be feeling guilty! 
I'll try to see what shape he is in now when I visit my parents tomorrow.

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19 comments:

  1. What a cute blackbird, pretty photos!

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  2. Well I'm glad it's the tail and not something else. Hopefully the bird will still be able to navigate! Poor thing!

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  3. Love your blackbirds with their touches of yellow! He's probably just having to learn how to balance a bit differently.

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  4. Great photos and interesting to see the tail-less bird. I find it is always the ones that are a bit different that pose the most problems for ID and for understanding,.

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  5. The reflection in the stone fountain and the bird on the edge - picture perfect!

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  6. Oh! He is a bit of a sorry sight but glad he is managing

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  7. I've seen the occasional one like that. I wonder whether the tail feathers grow at the next moult.

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  8. I've seen plenty of robins minus tails, but not blackbirds. As you say, there is a pussy cat in need of a "shame" picture somewhere

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  9. Frank, I have seen this happen to birds around here before as well. It sure does make them look off balance, but usually the tail grows back. Here's hoping this little guy is okay.

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  10. Poor thing without a tail. Nice shots!

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  11. Lovely captures! At least it's only his tail that's missing :)

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  12. Cat was my first instinct Frank, but who knows? At least he's able to carry on regardless.

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  13. wow, glad to hear that it is returning regularly and the lost tail doesn't seem to be a big issue for it.

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  14. Well that is different. - He seems to be doing okay without a tail.

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  15. Let us hope that's all of him that the cat gets! He's a survivor!

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  16. Love Blackbirds, please this one is surviving, brilliant :))

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  17. That bird may have no tail, but I'm sure it has a tale!

    Nice.

    Cheers - Stewart M - Melbourne

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  18. I see some of grackles with the same difficulty. I am sure harrowing tales (sorry) are behind each one. I've never seen a blackbird before. Very pretty with the orange and black combo.

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