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Meet the Blackbird Family
The blackbird family (Icteridae) includes many species not called blackbirds, such as orioles, meadowlarks, bobolinks and cowbirds. Other birds, such as crows, ravens and starlings, are also primarily black colored, but are in different bird families. Here are five common types of blackbirds that you might spot.
Red-Winged Blackbird
Male red-winged blackbirds, flashing their scarlet shoulder patches, are common across North America. You can find these birds in a variety of habitats. They’ll adapt to pond edges, weedy ditches or even brushy fields. Some of these birds are probably nesting in just about every county in the Lower 48 states. Their total population is estimated at 130 million to 190 million birds.
Yellow-Headed Blackbird
According to the Kaufman Field Guide to Birds of North America, yellow-headed blackbirds attract attention with their flashy colors and terrible attempts at singing. The song is described as “a few gurgles followed by a long, strangled buzzing noise.” On the males, a white wing patch is visible in flight. Look for these black and yellow birds in western marshes in summer.
Rusty Blackbird
In fall, you can see the rusty brown plumage (above) that gives this bird its name. The buff colored eyebrow is another key field mark. During other seasons, male rusty blackbirds are a dull black color with yellow eyes. This uncommon (and declining) species is almost always spotted by water. Rusty blackbirds nest around far northern bogs and spend winters in southeastern swamps.
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Brewer’s Blackbird
Look for these types of blackbirds in the western United States. According to the Kaufman Field Guide, they are common in open country, along the Pacific coast and in urban areas. Brewer’s blackbirds resemble grackles but have shorter tails. They are slightly larger than cowbirds. Males have glossy black feathers and white colored eyes.
Tricolored Blackbird
Head to California if you want to see a tricolored blackbird. It resembles the red-winged blackbird, but is rarer. Their shoulder patch is red and white, not red and yellow. They are very social birds that are frequently seen in large groups.
