---
title: "Indian Blackbird"
description: "Turdus simillimus — Birds. The Indian blackbird (Turdus simillimus) is a member of the thrush family Turdidae."
canonical: https://animalchecklist.com/animal/indian-blackbird
last_updated: 2026-09-20
---

# Indian Blackbird

> Turdus simillimus — Birds. The Indian blackbird (Turdus simillimus) is a member of the thrush family Turdidae.

- Scientific name: *Turdus simillimus*
- Category: `birds` (Birds)
- Habitats: unknown
- iNaturalist observations: 771
- Wikidata: [Q12268286](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12268286)
- iNaturalist taxon: [145085](https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/145085)

## Names

- en: Indian Blackbird
- de: Indische Amsel
- es: Mirlo indio
- fr: Merle des Nilgiri
- nl: Indische merel
- pl: Kos indyjski

## Countries with the most observations

IN (641), LK (80)

## Summary

The Indian blackbird (Turdus simillimus) is a member of the thrush family Turdidae. It was formerly considered a subspecies of the common blackbird. It is found only in India and Sri Lanka. The subspecies from most of the Indian subcontinent, simillimus, nigropileus, bourdilloni and spencei, are small, only 19–20 centimetres (7.5–7.9 inches) long, and have broad eye-rings. They also differ in proportions, wing formula, egg colour and voice from the common blackbird.

Text: Wikipedia (en), CC BY-SA 4.0 — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_blackbird

## Photo

![Indian Blackbird](https://animalchecklist.com/img/animals/indian-blackbird/medium.jpg)

Photo: Surya · CC0 · inaturalist — https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/386151969

## Machine access

`GET https://animalchecklist.com/api/v1/animals/indian-blackbird?lang=en` — see [openapi.json](https://animalchecklist.com/openapi.json).