Rusty Blackbird in June
Where rusty blackbirds are in June, whether they are nesting, and the best foods to offer right now.
June in the Rusty Blackbird's year
June is the height of the nesting season. Most resident and migrant species are raising young, migration is essentially over, and bird activity peaks at dawn. By late June the first fledglings of the year are everywhere — clumsy, loud, and constantly begging.
For the Rusty Blackbird specifically, June is a summer month inside the nesting season — one of the most active and demanding periods of this bird's year. Across the 34 states and provinces where rusty blackbirds occur, what the bird is doing this month depends heavily on latitude — the details below break it down by band.
Where rusty blackbirds are in June
- Southern states
- absent
- Mid-latitudes
- summer breeder
- Northern states & Canada
- absent
In June, rusty blackbirds are absent in the South, summer breeder across the mid-latitudes, and absent in the northern states and Canada. That north–south split is the defining feature of this month: where you live changes which version of this bird you're looking at.
Nesting in June
June is inside the Rusty Blackbird nesting season. Nest: bulky cup in a conifer or shrub over boreal swamp water. Clutch 3–6 eggs, incubation 14 days, 1 per season.
The season is broadly synchronized across the range this month. During the nesting months, adults switch to protein-rich foods for their young, become more secretive around the nest site, and often visit feeders in quick, purposeful trips rather than lingering.
What to feed in June
- Caddisflies, dragonfly larvae and snails
One of North America's steepest declines — down over 85%. Report sightings to help track its recovery.
Expect to see adults carrying food away rather than eating it — they're feeding nestlings. Fledglings visiting feeders with their parents are a June highlight.
Full Rusty Blackbird diet guide → · Best feeder for rusty blackbirds →
Watching rusty blackbirds this month
In June, the best watching is around food rather than the nest — adults make repeated foraging trips and are most visible at dawn and dusk. Give nesting birds space: if a bird is carrying food or scolding you persistently, you're close to a nest and should back off.
The state guides below show exactly where in your region rusty blackbirds are expected this month and which native plants hold them in a yard.
Rusty Blackbird month by month
Rusty Blackbird by state
Frequently asked
Where are rusty blackbirds in June?
In June, rusty blackbirds are absent in the South, summer breeder across mid-latitudes and absent in the North.
Do rusty blackbirds nest in June?
Yes — June falls inside the Rusty Blackbird nesting season at mid-latitudes.
What do rusty blackbirds eat in June?
Caddisflies, dragonfly larvae and snails.
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.