Merel magneet – Backyard Heroes

Discover the European Blackbird (Turdus merula), the undisputed master musician of the European garden. With its rich, whispering fluting song — one of the most complex and melodious songs of all European birds — the male marks the beginning of every spring, filling the garden with music from dawn till dusk. The glossy black male with his striking orange beak and yellow eye-ring is one of Europe's most iconic and beloved garden birds, present all year round as a loyal inhabitant of hedges, gardens, and parks.

This premium magnet features stunning wildlife photography capturing the characteristic glossy coat and expressive gaze of this beloved garden singer.

Conservation Status: Least Concern

• Population: Widespread in Europe (locally declining due to habitat loss)
• Habitat: Gardens, parks, forests, and forest edges throughout Europe
• Major Threats: Loss of hedges and shrubs, pesticide use, cats
• Ecological Role: Seed disperser, pest controller, and soil aerator via leaf litter
• Special Feature: Males learn their songs from other blackbirds — each individual has a unique repertoire

Fascinating Facts:

• A blackbird can sing more than 100 different songs — each male has a unique repertoire
• They learn new songs from neighbours — blackbird song spreads like a musical wave through the population
• Blackbirds are among the first birds to start singing in the morning — sometimes even before sunrise
• Females are brown with mottled breasts — perfect camouflage during brooding
• Blackbirds can live up to 5 years in the wild and are territorial year-round
• They forage by turning over leaf litter with their beak — a technique that aerates the soil and exposes insects

How to attract blackbirds to your garden?

• Plant berry bushes like holly, ivy, rowan, and elder
• Leave leaf litter for foraging invertebrates
• Provide dense hedges and shrubs for nesting opportunities
• Offer water for drinking and bathing
• Avoid pesticides — blackbirds need insects and worms

Read our complete rewilding guide for your garden →

We collaborate with organisations that make a real, measurable contribution to wildlife protection. Together, we are building a community of wildlife ambassadors — one magnet at a time.

With the purchase of this magnet, we donate €2.00 to wildlife protection – directly contributing to the conservation of the blackbird and its habitat.

Part of our Backyard Heroes collection — transform your fridge into a tribute to the master musician of the European garden.