Rusty Blackbird

(Euphagus carolinus)

Conservation Status
Rusty Blackbird
Photo by Phil Voxland
  IUCN Red List

VU - Vulnerable

 
  NatureServe

N4B, N4N - Apparently Secure Breeding and Nonbreeding

SNRB - Unranked Breeding

 
  Minnesota

not listed

 
           
           
 
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 Non-Breeding Male

 
    Rusty Blackbird      
           
 
MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos
 
 

 

 
           

 

Camera

 

     
 
Slideshows
 
  Rusty Blackbird
Dave Beaudette
 
  Rusty Blackbird  
  Rusty Blackbird
JMC Nature Photos
 
  Rusty Blackbird  

 

slideshow

       
 
Visitor Videos
 
       
 

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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
 
           
 

Report a sighting of this bird.

 
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Simply email us at info@MinnesotaSeasons.com.
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
 
   

 

 

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