Birdsong field guide
Rusty Blackbird
Euphagus carolinus
The Rusty Blackbird is a specialized wetland songbird known for its distinctive seasonal plumage and one of the most severe population declines in North American avian history.
What it sounds like
A distinctive, high-pitched creak resembling a rusty metal hinge, often followed by a rising 'shree' note.
Reference call, compare with what you heard
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Field notes
- It has suffered a catastrophic population decline of approximately 85% to 95% over the last half-century.
- Unlike most blackbirds, it is a dietary specialist that feeds primarily on aquatic invertebrates such as dragonflies and water beetles.
- The 'rusty' appearance in winter is caused by brown feather edges that physically wear off to reveal glossy black feathers for the breeding season.
- It is a strict boreal forest breeder, often nesting in dense conifers overhanging remote beaver ponds or bogs.
- They are among the earliest migrants to return north, frequently arriving at breeding sites while snow and ice are still present.
Habitat
Boreal bogs, wooded swamps, and wet floodplains.
Range
Breeds across the northern boreal forests of Alaska and Canada; winters in the Eastern and Southeastern United States.
Similar & commonly confused birds
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