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 Guide to Birds of North America Rusty Blackbird Description
DescriptionBREEDING MALEThe Rusty Blackbird is sexually dimorphic, though both sexes have a typical blackbird shape, a somewhat long and pointed bill, and pale eyes. Breeding males are all black with a purplish sheen to the head. FemaleBreeding females are dull brownish above and below.Seasonal change in appearanceFall adult males lack the glossy sheen and resemble females, but are darker and more heavily marked with rusty tones. Fall females are very rusty overall, with a thin, dark patch through the eye and a bold, buffy supercilium.JuvenileJuveniles resemble winter adults.HabitatRusty Blackbirds inhabit muskegs and wooded swamps, though in migration and winter they can be found in trees near water or in feedlots.DietRusty Blackbirds eat insects and seeds.BehaviorRusty Blackbirds forage on the ground or in shallow water.RangeRusty Blackbirds breed from Alaska east to the Atlantic Coast of Canada. They winter across a large portion of the eastern U.S. The population has declined very significantly in recent years.Fun FactsRusty Blackbirds breed farther north than other blackbirds. Like most blackbirds, Brewer’s Blackbirds sometimes associate with other blackbird species outside of the breeding season. VocalizationsThe song consists of a high, squeaky whistle, sometimes likened to the sound of a rusty hinge. A "chek" call is given as well.Similar Species
Nesting
The Rusty Blackbird’s nest is a cup of twigs, grass, and weeds and is lined with finer materials. It is placed in a coniferous tree or in a shrub over water.
EggsNumber: Usually lay 4-5 eggs.Color: Bluish-green with darker markings. Incubation and fledging: The young hatch at about 14 days, and fledge at about 11-14 days, though remaining dependent on the adults for some time. Professor Bird |
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