Rusty Blackbird Euphagus carolinus (Muller, 1776)    Synonyms: RUBL, Rusty Grackle.
Kingdom Animalia   >   Phylum Chordata   >   Class Aves   >   Order Passeriformes   >   Family Icteridae   >   Genus Euphagus   

Status:

Uncommon (formerly common) and dramatically declining migrant and wintering species in Maryland. According to the International Rusty Blackbird Working Group, the species has "shown chronic long-term and acute short-term population declines, based both on breeding season and wintering ground surveys." Please support monitoring and conservation efforts!

Where to find:

Wet woodlands in winter. A well-known location is Hughes Hollow in Montgomery Co.

Relationships:

Feeds primarily on insects on the breeding grounds. In winter, feeds on seeds and various fruits. Regularly joins mixed blackbird flocks in winter.

There are 422 records in the project database.

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Rusty Blackbird in Prince George's Co., Maryland (3/31/2023). (c) jugbayjs, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). - jugbayjs via iNaturalist.

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A Rusty Blackbird in Howard Co., Maryland (1/31/2011). Photo by Joe Turner. (MBP list)

A Rusty Blackbird in Howard Co., Maryland (4/1/2017). Photo by Anthony VanSchoor. (MBP list)

A Rusty Blackbird in Frederick Co., Maryland (10/8/2013). Photo by Richard Orr. (MBP list)

A Rusty Blackbird with tadpole prey in Frederick Co., Maryland (10/8/2013). Photo by Richard Orr. (MBP list)

Rusty Blackbird in Baltimore Co., Maryland (4/28/2020). (c) Frode Jacobsen, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Frode Jacobsen. (MBP list)

Rusty Blackbird in Montgomery Co., Maryland (3/26/2021). (c) Stephen John Davies, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Stephen John Davies via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

A Rusty Blackbird in Queen Anne's Co., Maryland (11/27/2017). Photo by Daniel Irons. (MBP list)

A Rusty Blackbird in Baltimore Co., Maryland (3/15/2015). Photo by Jon Corcoran. (MBP list)

A Rusty Blackbird at North Point SP, Baltimore Co., Maryland (11/9/2013). Photo by Jon Corcoran. (MBP list)

Rusty Blackbird in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (3/7/2021). (c) Sergei Drovetski, all rights reserved. Photo by Sergei Drovetski. (MBP list)

A male Rusty Blackbird in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (3/30/2014.). Photo by Dan Haas. (MBP list)

A Rusty Blackbird in Baltimore Co., Maryland (2/4/2021). Photo by Jim Stasz. (MBP list)

Rusty Blackbird in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (3/13/2021). (c) Sergei Drovetski, all rights reserved. Photo by Sergei Drovetski. (MBP list)

A Rusty Blackbird in Montgomery Co., Maryland (4/21/2016). Photo by Max Wilson. (MBP list)

Rusty Blackbird in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (Date obscured). (c) Sergei Drovetski, all rights reserved. Photo by Sergei Drovetski. (MBP list)

A Rusty Blackbird in Worcester Co., Maryland (3/25/2017). Photo by Ashley Bradford. (MBP list)

A Rusty Blackbird in Worcester Co., Maryland (11/11/2013). Photo by Scott Housten. (MBP list)

Rusty Blackbird in Montgomery Co., Maryland (3/26/2021). (c) Stephen John Davies, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Stephen John Davies via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Rusty Blackbird in Montgomery Co., Maryland (3/26/2021). (c) Stephen John Davies, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Stephen John Davies via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Rusty Blackbird in Montgomery Co., Maryland (3/26/2021). (c) Stephen John Davies, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Stephen John Davies via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Rusty Blackbirds in flight over Carroll Co., Maryland (11/6/2010). (c) Bill Hubick, all rights reserved. Photo by Bill Hubick. (MBP list)

Rusty Blackbird in Kent Co., Maryland (1/1/2023). (c) Jonathan Irons, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Jonathan Irons. (MBP list)

Rusty Blackbirds in flight over Carroll Co., Maryland (11/6/2010). (c) Bill Hubick, all rights reserved. Photo by Bill Hubick. (MBP list)

Rusty Blackbirds in flight over Carroll Co., Maryland (11/6/2010). (c) Bill Hubick, all rights reserved. Photo by Bill Hubick. (MBP list)

Rusty Blackbird in Dorchester Co., Maryland (10/1/2023). (c) Jonathan Irons, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Jonathan Irons via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Rusty Blackbird in Montgomery Co., Maryland (11/17/2021). (c) Stephen John Davies, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Stephen John Davies via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

A Rusty Blackbird in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (1/11/2017). Photo by Mark Johnson. (MBP list)

A Rusty Blackbird in Howard Co., Maryland (4/26/2013). Note distinctive profile. Photo by Robert Aguilar, SERC. (MBP list)


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