Rusty Blackbird

(Euphagus carolinus)

Conservation Status
IUCN Red List

VU - Vulnerable

NatureServe

N4B, N4N - Apparently Secure Breeding and Nonbreeding

SNRB - Unranked Breeding

Minnesota

not listed

 
Rusty Blackbird
Photo by Phil Voxland
 
Description

During mating season the male is entirely black with a faint green gloss on the body and a faint bluish or greenish gloss on the head. It may look black depending on the angle of the light.

 

Size

8 to 10 in length

15½ wingspan

 

Voice

 

Similar Species

 
Habitat

Breeding: Moist woodlands; bogs and fens with shrubs; and wooded edges of streams and beaver ponds

Migration: Mostly wooded wetlands but also open woodlands, pastures, and agricultural fields

Ecology

Migration

Mid-March to late November

 

Nesting

 

 

Food

 

Distribution

Occurrence

Common migrant and local breeder

 

Maps

The Minnesota Ornithologists’ Union All Seasons Species Occurrence Map

Taxonomy

Class

Aves (birds)

Order

Passeriformes (perching birds)

Family

Icteridae (New World blackbirds and orioles)

Genus

Euphagus (rusty and Brewer’s blackbirds)

   

Subordinate Taxa

Rusty Blackbird (Euphagus carolinus carolinus)

Rusty Blackbird (Euphagus carolinus nigrans)

   

Synonyms

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Visitor Photos
 

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Mary Genell

Rusty Blackbird

The link on your site was not working, so I am emailing you my recent sighting of a Rusty Blackbird. I saw this bird at about 1:30 p.m. today, Tuesday, October 26, 2021, on an island in Rainy Lake, Koochiching County. I saw a single rusty blackbird. I believe it is a non-breeding male.

 

Rusty Blackbird

James Gordon

Spotted in wooded, spring-fed pothole bog in maple and mixed hardwood and white pine forest. East side of Thoroughfare Creek.

Rusty Blackbird   Rusty Blackbird

Phil Voxland

Rusty Blackbird

Rusty Blackbird Non-Breeding Male

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Camera

 

Slideshows

Rusty Blackbird
Dave Beaudette

Rusty Blackbird

Rusty Blackbird
JMC Nature Photos

Rusty Blackbird

 

slideshow

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Other Videos

Rusty Blackbirds
WIld Bird Video Productions

About

Uploaded on Mar 8, 2011

Rusty Blackbirds in winter. Feeding and singing. Connecticut.

Rusty Blackbird singing and preening
The Bearded Birder

About

Published on Feb 11, 2016

A male Rusty Blackbird singing and preening in Munson Slough south of Lake Henrietta in Tallahassee, Leon County, Florida.

Euphagus carolinus = RUSTY BLACKBIRD
Rob Curtis

About

Published on Mar 23, 2015

Euphagus carolinus = RUSTY BLACKBIRD

Species photo gallery:
http://www.theearlybirder.com/icterids/rustybb/index.htm

Published on Apr 28, 2014
Woodfibrebirder

About

Published on Apr 28, 2014

Rusty Blackbird - Squamish River Estuary - April 28, 2014

Rusty Blackbird (Euphagus carolinus), Hillsboro Public Library, Oregon, 31 Oct 2013
Cyanocitta2

About

Published on Oct 31, 2013

Rusty Blackbird (Euphagus carolinus), female, Hillsboro Public Library, Oregon, 31 Oct 2013. Found 30 Oct. by Mark Wilkinson. There are only 12 previous accepted records in all of Oregon for this species, which is from eastern North America and is declining at a rapid rate.

 

Camcorder

Visitor Sightings
 

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Be sure to include a location.

Soring
11/11/2021

Location: Cohasset in Itasca County

7 rusty blackbirds. Observe a few here every year mid Nov

Mary Genell
10/26/2021

Location: Rainy Lake, Koochiching County

The link on your site was not working, so I am emailing you my recent sighting of a Rusty Blackbird. I saw this bird at about 1:30 p.m. today, Tuesday, October 26, 2021, on an island in Rainy Lake, Koochiching County. I saw a single rusty blackbird. I believe it is a non-breeding male.

Rusty Blackbird
James Gordon
10/21/2019

Location: Dassel, Minnesota. Meeker county.

a small group of 15-20 showed up in our yard, Possibly following a large group of crows that showed up a few minutes before they did.

Rusty Blackbird
Phil Voxland
10/9/2018

Location: St. Louis County, Burntside Lake

Rusty Blackbird Non-Breeding Male

Rusty Blackbird
MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings

 

 

Binoculars

 

Created: 3/1/2017

Last Updated:

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