A small (9 inches) blackbird, the male Rusty Blackbird in breeding plumage is most easily identified by its small size, black body with greenish gloss, and pale eye. Breeding females are similar but duller, with a slate-gray body. Winter males are rusty brown with a pale eye-stripes and grayish-brown wings, while winter females are similar to winter males but are paler brown. The Rusty Blackbird breeds primarily in Alaska and central Canada. Extremely small numbers breed south of the border in the United States, primarily in Minnesota, Michigan, upstate New York, and northern New England. In winter, this species may be found in the eastern U.S.from Massachusetts to central Florida and west to Nebraska. In summer, Rusty Blackbirds breed in bogs and wet evergreen forests. In winter, this species may be found in swamps and wet southern forests. Rusty Blackbirds primarily eat insects in summer, switching to seeds and pine nuts in winter. Due to the relative inaccessibility of this species’ breeding grounds, most birdwatchers never see the Rusty Blackbird during the summer. In winter, when Rusty Blackbirds are more visible, they may be seen foraging for food in large flocks over swamps and wet woodland. This species is primarily active during the day.
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Bibliographic Citation: Rumelt, Reid B. Euphagus carolinus. June-July 2012. Brief natural history summary of Euphagus carolinus. Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C.
