Fun Melodious Blackbird Facts For Kids

The melodious blackbird (Dives dives) is a medium sized songbird of the Icteridae family of the kingdom of Animalia. It has black plumage, velvety sheen, pointed bill, dark eyes, and a rounded tail.

The adult species look identical to each other. However, the young species has a brownish black plumage.

A young melodious blackbird is called a chick or a fledgling. It is a resident breeder from coastal eastern and southeastern Mexico to Costa Rica. It occupies a wide range of habitats but its habitat is predominated by the gardens, tropical lowlands, forests, and lawns.

According to The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Red List of Threatened Species, the melodious blackbird (Dives dives) is of the Least Concern. The population of these bird species seems to be increasing.

There is no sex-specific name given to these bird species. They are simply referred to as male melodious blackbirds and female melodious blackbirds.

This New World blackbird communicates with the other birds via song that is a duet between the pairs, followed by a whit and a whistle. Its call is a metallic puitt.

While not much is known about their reproduction process, the melodious blackbirds are monogamous bird species, and both sexes build a cup nest in a bush or tree and females lay and incubate the three to four brown blotched blue eggs alone. However, the fathers do help in feeding the chicks.

One of the interesting facts about the melodious blackbird is that it has no subspecies. This bird species is usually happy to be around humans, and it can be easily tamed.

It is not as aggressive as robins.

Although it is very stubborn regarding its ground, this clever bird is quite friendly too. However, its breeding species are territorial and the adult is known to attack predators during the breeding season.

This bird species is an omnivore and it forages on trees, picking the insects and their larvae. Its diet also includes nectar, ripening maize ears, fruits, and other plants.

For more relatable content, check out these common blackbird facts and rusty blackbird facts pages.

Melodious Blackbird Interesting Facts

What type of animal is a melodious blackbird?

The melodious blackbird (Dives dives) is a type of songbird belonging to the Icteridae family.

What class of animal does a melodious blackbird belong to?

The melodious blackbird belongs to the Aves class that includes all birds.

How many melodious blackbirds are there in the world?

According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the number of melodious blackbirds (Dives dives) in the world is 5000000-49999999.

Where does a melodious blackbird live?

The melodious blackbird (Dives dives) is a resident breeder from coastal eastern and southeastern Mexico to Costa Rica.

What is a melodious blackbird's habitat?

It occupies a wide range of habitats but its habitat is predominated by the gardens, tropical lowlands, forests, and lawns.

Who does melodious blackbird live with?

Whilst not much is known about its lifestyle, a melodious blackbird may associate with grackles, but it does not interact with the other blackbirds.

How long does a melodious blackbird live?

The average lifespan of a blackbird is 3.4 years. However, the lifespan of the melodious blackbird (Dives dives) has not been recorded yet.

How do they reproduce?

While not much is known about their reproduction process, melodious blackbirds are monogamous bird species, and both sexes build a cup nest in a bush or tree and females lay and incubate the three to four brown blotched blue eggs alone. However, the fathers do help in feeding the chicks.

What is their conservation status?

According to The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Red List of Threatened Species, the melodious blackbird (Dives dives) is of the Least Concern. The population of these bird species seems to be increasing.

Melodious Blackbird Fun Facts

What does a melodious blackbird look like?

Melodious Blackbird (Dives dives) is a medium sized blackbird with black plumage, velvety sheen, pointed bill, dark eyes, and a rounded tail. The male species and female species look identical. However, the young species has a brownish-black plumage.

How cute are they?

They are not very cute to look at and come up as a little scary to human beings.

How do they communicate?

These new world blackbirds communicate with each other via song that is a duet between the pairs, followed by a whit and a whistle. Their call is a metallic puitt.

How big is a melodious blackbird?

The female species is slightly smaller than the male species but the average length of a melodious blackbird is 9.1-10 in (23-25.5 cm), which is 10 times the size of an oriental cockroach.

How fast can a melodious blackbird fly?

The exact flying speed of these species is not known. However, most birds of the same size as them fly at about 10-30 mph (15-50 kph).

How much does a melodious blackbird weigh?

An average melodious blackbird (dives) weighs around 3.4-3.8 oz (95-108 g).

What are the male and female names of the species?

There is no sex specific name given to these species. They are simply referred to as male melodious blackbirds and female melodious blackbirds.

What would you call a baby melodious blackbird?

A young melodious blackbird is called a chick or a fledgling.

What do they eat?

These species are omnivores and they forage on trees, picking the insects and their larvae. Their diet also includes nectar, ripening maize ears, fruits, and other plants.

Are they dangerous?

No, these birds are harmless to human beings. However, a related bird species, red winged blackbirds attack humans by swooping during the nesting period.

Would they make a good pet?

While there is no specific information provided for these bird species, the blackbirds are usually happy to be around humans, and they can be easily tamed.

Did you know...

This bird species is a new world tropical bird.

The melodious blackbird has no subspecies.

Its breeding species are territorial and the adult is known to attack predators during the breeding season.

Are female blackbirds bigger than males?

While there is no specific information provided for the same, males are entirely black whereas females are sometimes dark brown. Other than that, the adult species look identical to each other.

Are blackbirds friendly?

Blackbirds are highly territorial birds, but they are not as aggressive as robins. Although they are very stubborn regarding their ground, these clever birds are quite friendly too. 

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! For more relatable content, check out these greater flamingo fun facts or American kestrel Interesting facts pages.

You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable melodious blackbird coloring pages.

Second image by dfaulder.