ÑARBATU

[Marta Elena Díaz García]

Ñarbatu = blackbird

Depending on the place, there are several variants: ñerbato, ñerbatu, ñarbatu, ñarbato and ñarbotu

Do not mistake ñarbatu for ñarbasu that describes the corn cane once the cob was removed.

De raza-y vien al ñarbatu’l so xiblatu is an Asturian expression used to enhance the qualities of someone whose merits and skills are inherited or characteristic of a family or lineage.
A similar expression in Spanish should be: "De casta le viene al galgo" [=] The greyhound's skills come from its breed.

In Spanish: ñarbatu [=] mirlo (Turdus merula)

A "mirlo blanco" (white blackbird??? albino blackbird???), is an expression to refer mainly to a person with great virtues which are very scarce and difficult to find.

[Art]

Thanks, Marta!
Where does this bird appear? In the mountains, near the ocean, or all over Asturias?

[Marta Elena Díaz García]

Hi, Art:

This bird appears all around the country, in forests and thickets. Also in parks and gardens.

I like them because of their beautiful trill.

The male is black and its beak is yellow. On the contrary, the female is brownish-grey, more pale in the lower part and its beak is also brownish.

[Art]

Hi, Marta, thanks for that info.

I was surprised when I listened to YouTube clips how different the calls of this bird can be. Maybe it's got more variety of calls, like the American mockingbird?

[Terechu]

We call the regular blackbirds ñarvatu. Black feathers, yelow peak. they are everuwhere in Summer.