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Rusty Blackbird

Euphagus carolinus ORDER: PASSERIFORMES FAMILY: ICTERIDAE

IUCN Conservation Status: Vulnerable

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Rusty Blackbird Photo

© 2004 Cornell Lab of Ornithology

The Rusty Blackbird breeds in swampy wooded areas of Canada and Alaska. Relatively uncommon, it has evidently undergone a steady population decline since the mid-1960s.

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Appearance

Blackbirds
Blackbirds
Typical Voice

Adult Description

  • Medium-sized songbird.
  • Medium-long tail.
  • Narrow, pointed bill.
  • Breeding male is black, with a greenish sheen.
  • Breeding female is slate-gray.
  • Both sexes show rusty feather edging over much of their plumage in fall and winter.
  • Eyes yellow.

Male Description

Breeding Plumage: Entirely black with dull metallic greenish sheen on upperparts, slightly bluish on crown. Underparts duller.
Nonbreeding (Basic) Plumage: Black feathers with rusty tips, broadest on face, nape, and back. Tawny eyestripe.

Female Description

Breeding Plumage: Back dark gray. Face and underparts slightly paler gray. Wings and tail blackish. Eyes yellow.
Nonbreeding (Basic) Plumage: Dark feathers tipped with rusty brown. Tawny eyestripe and buffy face.

Immature Description

Immature like winter adult, but more rusty overall.

Range Map Help

Rusty Blackbird Range Map
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Field MarksHelp

  • Male breeding
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    Male breeding
    • © 2004 Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Churchill, Manitoba, Canada, June 2000
  • Adult female
    PopOutZoom In
    Adult female
    • © 2004 Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ventura County, California, December 2000

Similar Species

  • Brewer's Blackbird similar, but has longer legs and longer tail. Male Brewer's Blackbird is more glossy, with a purplish cast, and shows contrast between head and body. In fall and winter, male Brewer's Blackbird shows less rusty feather edging. Female Brewer's Blackbird has dark eyes and is brownish gray rather than slate-gray. Caution: up to 10% of female Brewer's have yellow eyes.
  • Common Grackle is larger, has larger and thicker bill, and longer, wedge-shaped tail.
  • Shiny Cowbird male has dark eye and shorter bill.