Rusty Blackbird

Rusty Blackbird (Euphagus carolinus) is in the New World Blackbirds and Orioles family (Icteridae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 8,939 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in April.

Seasonal pattern in the national data: winter visitor. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.

Conservation status (iNaturalist): VU.

When to photograph Rusty Blackbird: observations by month (U.S.)

About Rusty Blackbird

The rusty blackbird (Euphagus carolinus) is a medium-sized blackbird, closely related to grackles ("rusty grackle" is an older name for the species). It is a bird that prefers wet forested areas, breeding in the boreal forest and muskeg across northern Canada, and migrating southeast to the United States during winter.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.

Rusty Blackbird by state

Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.

Related birds (New World Blackbirds and Orioles)

Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceus

Great-tailed GrackleQuiscalus mexicanus

Brown-headed CowbirdMolothrus ater

Common GrackleQuiscalus quiscula

Baltimore OrioleIcterus galbula

Brewer's BlackbirdEuphagus cyanocephalus

Boat-tailed GrackleQuiscalus major

Western MeadowlarkSturnella neglecta

Photography tips

• Use a fast shutter (1/2000 s or faster) for birds in flight.
• Focus on the eye and shoot at the bird's eye level.
• Approach slowly and stop if the bird changes behavior; never bait or flush birds.
• Morning activity peaks in the first two hours after sunrise.

FAQ