Eurasian blackbird: National Bird of Sweden

Why it represents the country

Sweden's national bird was chosen by popular vote, not by law. The blackbird, called koltrast in Swedish, first won a poll run by the newspaper Dagens Nyheter in 1962. In 2015 the Swedish Ornithological Society, SOF, held a new nationwide vote in several rounds starting in February. Almost 55,000 people voted in the final round, and nearly 13,000 of them chose the blackbird, a clear win.

The rest of the results show how much Swedes care about their birds. The magpie came second, the blue tit third and the raven fourth, followed by the white-tailed eagle, bullfinch, white wagtail, robin, great tit and chaffinch. The blackbird does not live in the far north of Sweden, and an SOF ornithologist said that if only the two northernmost counties had voted, the whimbrel would probably have won.

The blackbird's greatest appeal is its song. It is widely regarded as the finest singer among Sweden's birds. Males sing from rooftops and treetops on spring evenings, and for many people the first blackbird song of the year is a promise that winter is coming to an end.

About the animal

The Eurasian blackbird, also called the common blackbird, is a member of the thrush family. It is about 25 centimeters long and weighs roughly 80 to 125 grams. Males are fully black with a bright yellow or orange beak and a yellow ring around the eye. Females are brown with a brownish beak, and young birds are brown and speckled.

Blackbirds feed mostly on the ground, hopping across lawns and flicking over dead leaves to find earthworms, insects, snails and spiders. In late summer, autumn and winter they eat a lot of fruit and berries, such as hawthorn, sloe, elder and bramble. In towns many also visit bird feeders.

The female builds a sturdy cup-shaped nest of grass and twigs held together with mud, usually in a bush, a tree or on a ledge of a building. She usually lays three or four eggs. They hatch after about 13 days, and the chicks leave the nest about two weeks later. A pair may raise two or more broods in one season, building a new nest each time.

Blackbirds are native to Europe, North Africa and parts of Asia, and people have introduced them to southeastern Australia and New Zealand. Once mainly a forest bird, the blackbird has become one of the most common birds of European towns and gardens. Studies have found that city blackbirds sing at a higher pitch than country blackbirds, which may help their songs carry over traffic noise.

Conservation

The Eurasian blackbird is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, most recently assessed in 2024. BirdLife International estimates the world population at 145 to 220 million mature birds, and the number appears to be increasing.

In Sweden the blackbird is common in the south and center of the country and becomes scarce toward the north. It has done well in towns and suburbs, where gardens, parks and feeders offer food and nesting places. Many Swedish blackbirds stay through the winter, especially in cities, while others fly south or west for the coldest months.

Even common birds face dangers. Pet cats, window strikes and traffic kill many blackbirds, and very cold winters can be hard on them. In parts of central Europe the mosquito-borne Usutu virus has caused deaths of blackbirds in recent years. Gardens with dense bushes, fruiting plants and no pesticides help blackbirds and many other small birds.

Fun facts

• In Sweden's 2015 vote, the magpie briefly challenged the blackbird after a podcast urged its listeners to vote for it.
• The oldest known wild blackbird lived for almost 22 years, but most live only a few years.
• City blackbirds tend to sing at a higher pitch than country blackbirds.

Frequently asked questions

What is the national bird of Sweden?

The national bird of Sweden is the Eurasian blackbird (a widely recognized national symbol, not set by law). It is a familiar garden songbird of the thrush family with a rich, fluting song; males are fully black with a bright yellow or orange beak, while females are brown.

Which country has the Eurasian blackbird as its national bird?

The Eurasian blackbird is the national bird of Sweden. The Eurasian blackbird is also known as common blackbird.

Why is the Eurasian blackbird the national bird of Sweden?

The blackbird, called koltrast in Swedish, was chosen by popular vote rather than by law: it first won a poll run by the newspaper Dagens Nyheter in 1962, and in 2015 it clearly won a nationwide vote held by the Swedish Ornithological Society, taking nearly 13,000 of almost 55,000 votes in the final round. Its greatest appeal is its song, widely regarded as the finest of any bird in Sweden.

Is the Eurasian blackbird endangered?

The Eurasian blackbird is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, most recently assessed in 2024. BirdLife International estimates the world population at 145 to 220 million mature birds, and the number appears to be increasing.

Where does the Eurasian blackbird live?

Gardens, parks, woodland edges and forests across most of Sweden.

See also: Most Popular Dog Breeds in Sweden (2025)

← All national animals

Sources

• Sveriges Radio. Klart: Koltrasten Sveriges nationalfågel.
• Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan. Turdus merula: Eurasian blackbird.
• IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Turdus merula (assessment 2024).
• Svenska Botaniska Föreningen — Verksamhetsberättelse 2021 (annual report).
• Sveriges Radio — Over 25,000 votes cast to decide Sweden's national flower.
• Conservation status: IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.