Credit: Brian Peterson
North American field guide
Rusty Blackbird
Euphagus carolinus
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Identification
Field notes
23 cm (9") Fairly common. Summers in northern spruce bogs, wooded swamps, mustkegs; winters to southeastern United States in woods and fields near water. Rare in open fields with other blackbirds. Yellow eyes.
Spring Males: are dull black overall
Spring Females: are slate-gray overall.
Fall and Winter: birds show a buffy eyebrow and are washed in rust.
Song: squeaky like rusty hinge creaking; harsh "shack" call.
Details in the field
Photo gallery
Watch and learn
Videos
Rusty Blackbirds
Credit: Wild Bird and Nature Videos by McElroy ProductionsRusty Blackbird
Credit: Connecticut Audubon SocietyWhere it lives
Distribution maps
Source legend · original intervals
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Unshaded in source · does not imply absence
Generic and winter maps may use different intervals.
Bird Advisor Identification rules 1 variant · 4 rules
These are the observation paths the Bird Advisor can use to identify this species. Each rule is an alternative match.
Rusty Blackbird
4 rulesRule 1 13 criteria · confidence 6
- Did the WINGS have STRIPES or PATCHES ?
- No · Unknown
- What SIZE was the TAIL ?
- Short · Medium · Long · Unknown
- What colour was the BELLY ?
- Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
- What colour was the BREAST ?
- Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
- What colour was the THROAT ?
- Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
- What SHAPE was the BILL ?
- Straight and slender · Straight and thick · Conical and slender · Conical and thick · Downcurved · Unknown
- What LENGTH was the BILL ?
- Short · Medium · Long · Unknown
- What colour were the EYES ?
- White or light gray · Yellow or olive · Unknown
- What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?
- Green · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
- How BIG was the bird ?
- Sparrow-sized · Robin-sized
- What TYPE of bird was seen ?
- Songbird (ground or perching bird)
- WHEN was the bird seen ?
- Spring · Summer · Fall
- WHERE was the bird seen ?
- Northeastern Canada or United States · Southeastern United States · Northwestern Canada or United States
Rule 2 13 criteria · confidence 1
- Did the WINGS have STRIPES or PATCHES ?
- No · Unknown
- What SIZE was the TAIL ?
- Short · Medium · Long · Unknown
- What colour was the BELLY ?
- Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
- What colour was the BREAST ?
- Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
- What colour was the THROAT ?
- Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
- What SHAPE was the BILL ?
- Straight and slender · Straight and thick · Conical and slender · Conical and thick · Downcurved · Unknown
- What LENGTH was the BILL ?
- Short · Medium · Long · Unknown
- What colour were the EYES ?
- White or light gray · Yellow or olive · Unknown
- What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?
- Green · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
- How BIG was the bird ?
- Sparrow-sized · Robin-sized
- What TYPE of bird was seen ?
- Songbird (ground or perching bird)
- WHEN was the bird seen ?
- Spring · Summer · Fall
- WHERE was the bird seen ?
- Southwestern United States
Rule 3 11 criteria · confidence 6
- Did the WINGS have STRIPES or PATCHES ?
- No · Unknown
- What colour was the BREAST ?
- Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
- What SHAPE was the BILL ?
- Straight and slender · Straight and thick · Conical and slender · Conical and thick · Downcurved · Unknown
- What LENGTH was the BILL ?
- Short · Medium · Long · Unknown
- What FACIAL or HEAD features were noted if any ?
- Light area between the bill and the eye · Light area running up the side of the neck or head · Sideburn stripe running down beneath the eye · Dark area behind, under, through or around the eye · Crest of feathers on top of the head · Ear "tufts" or horns · NONE of the above or a PLAIN unmarked FACE · Unknown
- What colour were the EYES ?
- White or light gray · Yellow or olive · Unknown
- What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?
- Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
- How BIG was the bird ?
- Sparrow-sized · Robin-sized
- What TYPE of bird was seen ?
- Songbird (ground or perching bird)
- WHEN was the bird seen ?
- Fall · Winter
- WHERE was the bird seen ?
- Northeastern Canada or United States · Southeastern United States
Rule 4 11 criteria · confidence 1
- Did the WINGS have STRIPES or PATCHES ?
- No · Unknown
- What colour was the BREAST ?
- Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
- What SHAPE was the BILL ?
- Straight and slender · Straight and thick · Conical and slender · Conical and thick · Downcurved · Unknown
- What LENGTH was the BILL ?
- Short · Medium · Long · Unknown
- What FACIAL or HEAD features were noted if any ?
- Light area between the bill and the eye · Light area running up the side of the neck or head · Sideburn stripe running down beneath the eye · Dark area behind, under, through or around the eye · Crest of feathers on top of the head · Ear "tufts" or horns · NONE of the above or a PLAIN unmarked FACE · Unknown
- What colour were the EYES ?
- White or light gray · Yellow or olive · Unknown
- What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?
- Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
- How BIG was the bird ?
- Sparrow-sized · Robin-sized
- What TYPE of bird was seen ?
- Songbird (ground or perching bird)
- WHEN was the bird seen ?
- Fall · Winter
- WHERE was the bird seen ?
- Southwestern United States · Northwestern Canada or United States