HOW LONG DO BLACKBIRDS LIVE?

For the last three years we have had a male blackbird jealously guarding a large berried climber during the winter on the back wall of our small garden. Every year he appears around this time when the berries have really started to come out and attacks all birds, including female blackbirds who dare to land on the shrub. Often there has been quite a fight with other birds and he makes such a noise, fascinating to watch. He has just appeared again this year but is not quite so aggressive, actually letting a female blackbird stay for a short time on and off during the day and then playing with her in the grass afterwards. My question is - is he the same one or son of blackbird?