Two Timing Blackbird?

[cecil39]

a male blackbird (nicknamed fred) has been pestering us for food for several weeks now taking beak fulls of soaked mealworms into a shrub just about every time we step out side, yesterday he turned up with some young ones and fed them, but today, although fed the young again he also took some worms away and went into a different hedge to where his nest was, what I wondered, has he got two mates? he is certainly a busy boy, and yes, it is the same bird, as he has one white feather each side of his neck.

[Svejk]

I'm no expert on birds(the feathered variety) but I wouldn't think so. They're kept busy with 1 family.

[Svejk]

Twins maybe?

[cupid04]

You sure his name is Fred, not svejk?

[Tilly2]

Maybe the chicks have fledged and they have ended up in different locations.

[cecil39]

never thought of that tilly, I suppose some may have gone different ways, he has three with him so it must have been quite a nestfull.

[Milvus]

Most blackbirds are monogamous, but not all. Your guess of two mates is probably right Cecil

[Barmaid]

Our blackbirds returned briefly this year and then decided that for their first couple of broods they would seek another garden nearby. thus for a few weeks, they were feeding their young in and around our garden and at the same time rebuilding last year's nest.

Our first lot for this year are about to fledge.

I dont think he is two timing, I think he is just busy and attentive.

[Maydup]

I think he's got a couple who have yet to fledge from the hedge. I notice that blackbirds are fed by their parents until they look and behave like teenagers and far too old to be asking for food. A very demanding family by the sounds of it.

[cecil39]

well, thank you all, I love watching the birds and seem to learn something new every day, today our fred had four young pestering him, and still took food away to the other side of the garden.