Euphagus cyanocephalus
These small, bold blackbirds have a two-note song that is very similar to the Brown-headed Cowbird's. They commonly squabble with pigeons and starlings for leftover scraps of food, and, along roadways, they can be seen strutting confidently in defiance of nearby, rapidly moving vehicles. The Brewer's Blackbird allows us to easily and intimately observe it. By studying the behavior of several birds in a flock, you can determine the hierarchy of the flock as it is perceived by the birds themselves. Brewer's Blackbird feathers, which superficially appear black, actually show an iridescent quality as reflected rainbows of sunlight move along the feather shafts. |
I.D.: Male: glossy black plumage; dark blue on the head; green body iridescence; yellow eyes. Female: flat brown plumage; black eyes. Size: L 8-10 in. (20-25 cm). Range: common migrant and summer resident throughout the Rockies; uncommon winter visitor in the southern U.S. Rockies; rare winter visitor in the northern U.S. Rockies. Habitat: wet meadows, grasslands, roadsides, landfills, stockyards and shrublands up to the lower subalpine. Nesting: loosely colonial; on the ground or in a shrub or tree; well-built cup nest is woven with twigs, grass, mud, roots and fur; female incubates 4-6 eggs for 12-14 days. Feeding: walks along shorelines and open areas, gleaning invertebrates and seeds. Voice: song is a creaking, 2-noted k-shee. Similar Species: Rusty Blackbird: longer, more slender bill; lacks the blue and green gloss in the plumage; female has yellow eyes. Brown-headed Cowbird: shorter tail; male has black eyes and a brown head. Common Grackle: much longer, keeled tail; heavier bill. |
