Feathered film fan (From Stroud News and Journal)

Feathered film fan

STROUD'S eccentricity seems to be rubbing off on the wildlife after a blackbird is thought to have changed its tune to fit in with a local character.

The bird has reportedly been heard in Bank Gardens whistling the music from the classic Sergio Leone western The Good, The Bad and The Ugly.

The well-known tune will be especially familiar to many in Stroud who may have seen a Stroud character wandering the streets whistling the dramatic refrain at impressive volume.

It is believed the bird has learned to mimic its human idol. "There are certain birds that will mimic readily and well," said Stroud vet Neil Forbes, an internationally respected authority on birds.

"The wild bird that does it in the UK is the starling, which is a relative of the mynah bird. "I'm not aware of a blackbird ever doing it but that's not to say it is impossible.

"If it is mimicking then it would be very unusual and really exciting. "The way to check it would be to get the gentleman to walk through the park whistling and the bird's going to whistle back."