Asturian-American Migration Forum

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.

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

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.

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?

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