Do blackbirds sunbathe?

I've seen our blackbird occasionally just sitting aorund on one of the bushes but it seems that he's become evem more relaxed - I caught him just sitting on the lawn (something that I thought was strange - what about predators?) with his wings fanned out and his beak open. Do blackbirds do this often?

Hi Katie

Yep quite a few birds Sunbathe  i've seen Blackbirds, Robins, Sparrows and Woodpigeons

Blackbirds can barely make it through a patch of sun without going into a trance. I saw one sunbathe on the patio step yesterday. He was chased off by another male, but only ran (wings still spread) as far as the other end of the step before he had to flatten himself down in the sun again!

This is one of my blackbirds having a long sunbathe, taken a couple of days ago on the shed roof.

Thanks for that - love the photos and glad to know that its not just our blackbird thats a bit strange!

I think that most birds sun bathe but like humans thy must be oing a bit short at the moment,oh no I forgot we did have sun yesterday !!

Katie, probably sunbathing but at this time of the year (weather permitting) birds will ant as well.  They will spread themselves out on or near an ants nest (and  there will be a few in a lawn) and allow the formic acid from the ants to clear pests from feathers.

I didn't know that about the ants - thats pretty clever! Probably not good for my plants though. Do birds eat slugs? If I found them on my lettuces, I tend to scoop them up and put them a distance away rather than kill them, but there are so many that I could do with a helping beak

Blackbirds and Thrushes both eat slugs they tend to go for the small white ones.

Slow worms will also eat these and the smaller keal (spl?) slugs.

For the bigger black ones then thats where your local Hedgehog comes into its own.

Having said this we have all the above in the garden and still there are plenty of snails and slugs around :-( lol.

I don't understand that word you use - sun? What's that?!! Seriously though, great pics! So funny to see them lazing about sunbathing! I've noticed many birds doing this too. I always worry about them being vunerable though, when they lie on the ground, in case there are any cats around, ready to pounce!

I was watching a few birds sun bathe t'other day, it's lovely to see , so peaceful.