Blackbird chick

The blackbirds were numerous, of course, reinforced by the newest generation. It’s a bit hard to tell the juveniles and females apart, since they have very similar colouring, but there are a few key differences:

• juveniles are rounder. Not sure why. Maybe their feathers are built differently?
• they still tend to glom on their parents (usually the mother, but I’ve seen it with males too. Seems both parents help to take care of the kids. Good for them!)
• in addition to glomming, they beg for food a lot, as in this picture. Yes, they can fly. But they’re not independent yet, and at first they can’t even forage for themselves. Parental care continues after they leave the nest.
• they tend to hide more. One spent a few minutes out of sight in a little bush by the pier, which I’ve never seen an adult do.