Rusty Blackbird

Okay, I have to admit when I took this picture I thought I was seeing a Common Grackle. But when I posted it to iNaturalist, it suggested a Rusty Blackbird, and other people agreed with this identification. Though in the same family, these species are in different genera and so are probably not really close relations [1].

You might wonder why they're called Rusty Blackbirds since this fella looks black, maybe with a slight bluish sheen. Rusty Blackbirds were named for their non-breeding plumage which actually does look a bit rusty, or at least an uneven brown color. This is presumably a male that may not be in his breeding range but does have his breeding plumage. With this plumage they resemble the dark, shiny, light-eyed grackles. We're supposed to differentiate them by the Rusty Blackbird being smaller (hard to judge from a distance), having a smaller tail, and having a less robust beak.

These birds also resemble the Brewer's Blackbird, a close relative that isn't seen much in my area.

March 20, 2023 at Duke Island Park
Photo 268021876, (c) jpviolette, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)

[1] Orioles, meadowlarks, cowbirds, and the Bobolink are also in this family.

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