Blackbirds (Icteridae)
Rusty Blackbird
Euphagus carolinus. Aquatic insects and seeds from wooded swamps.
Blackbirds (Icteridae)Rusty BlackbirdEuphagus carolinus
- Scientific name
- Euphagus carolinus
- Length
- 8.3–9.8 in
- Weight
- 1.7–2.8 oz
- Nest
- Bulky cup in a conifer or shrub over boreal swamp water
- Entrance hole
- Does not use nest boxes
- Clutch
- 3–6 eggs
- Incubation
- 14 days
- Broods
- 1 per season
Identification
- Winter birds edged rusty-brown all over
- Pale yellow eye
- Slimmer and shorter-tailed than a grackle
Voice
A creaking, rusty-hinge squeal.
Diet and feeding
Aquatic insects and seeds from wooded swamps.
What do rusty blackbirds eat? · Best feeder for rusty blackbirds
Rusty Blackbirds by state and province
| Region | Status | Nesting |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Winter visitor | — |
| Alaska | Summer breeder | June–July |
| Alberta | Summer breeder | June–July |
| Arkansas | Winter visitor | — |
| British Columbia | Summer breeder | June–July |
| Delaware | Winter visitor | — |
| Florida | Winter visitor | — |
| Georgia | Winter visitor | — |
| Kentucky | Winter visitor | — |
| Louisiana | Winter visitor | — |
| Maine | Summer breeder | June–July |
| Manitoba | Summer breeder | June–July |
| Maryland | Winter visitor | — |
| Mississippi | Winter visitor | — |
| New Brunswick | Summer breeder | June–July |
| New Hampshire | Summer breeder | June–July |
| New York | Summer breeder | May–July |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | Summer breeder | June–July |
| North Carolina | Winter visitor | — |
| Northwest Territories | Summer breeder | June–July |
| Nova Scotia | Summer breeder | June–July |
| Nunavut | Summer breeder | June–July |
| Oklahoma | Winter visitor | — |
| Ontario | Summer breeder | June–July |
| Prince Edward Island | Summer breeder | June–July |
| Quebec | Summer breeder | June–July |
| Saskatchewan | Summer breeder | June–July |
| South Carolina | Winter visitor | — |
| Tennessee | Winter visitor | — |
| Texas | Winter visitor | — |
| Vermont | Summer breeder | June–July |
| Virginia | Winter visitor | — |
| West Virginia | Winter visitor | — |
| Yukon | Summer breeder | June–July |
Frequently asked
What do rusty blackbirds eat?
Aquatic insects and seeds from wooded swamps. At feeders: cracked corn, millet (on the ground near wet woods).
How big is a Rusty Blackbird?
8.3–9.8 in long and 1.7–2.8 oz.
Do rusty blackbirds use birdhouses?
No. Bulky cup in a conifer or shrub over boreal swamp water.
Sources
- Rusty Blackbird — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Rusty Blackbird life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Rusty Blackbird — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.