Rusty Blackbird
Euphagus carolinus
Conservation Concern 3
Rusty Blackbirds live in boreal forest wetlands across North America, from Alaska to Newfoundland. In Yukon, they can be found right up to the tundra’s edge. Not much is known about their numbers in Yukon, but there has been a 90% reduction in the overall North American population over the last 30 years.
Description 3
Females are brownish-grey with no gloss; males are glossy black. Both sexes have white eyes. In August, both sexes moult into their winter plumage, which is brown and black due to the rusty and beige feather edges, which wear off by spring.
Typical Habitat 3
Present in Yukon from April to October, Rusty Blackbirds live throughout the boreal forest in brushy wetland areas.
Potential Threats 3
Many Rusty Blackbirds have been killed during control programs for Red-winged Blackbirds in agricultural areas in southern agricultural areas.
Did You Know? 3
Rusty Blackbirds usually nest alone or in small, loose colonies, and pair with the same mate every year. Blackbirds are some of the few migratory birds (along with pelicans, cormorants, and raptors) not protected by the Migratory Birds Convention Act.
Sources and Credits
- (c) Wikimedia Commons, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b7/Euphagus-carolinus-001.jpg/460px-Euphagus-carolinus-001.jpg
- (c) Len Blumin, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-ND), https://www.flickr.com/photos/lenblumin/11037362176/
- (c) L.G. Johanson, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)
More Info
Range Map
iNaturalist.ca Map
| Animal | Bird |
|---|---|
| Bird | New World Passerines (Icterids) |
| Color | black, brown |
