brewer’s blackbird
1. Bird Name
The Brewer’s Blackbird (Euphagus Cyanocephalus).
2. Appearance
The Brewer’s Blackbird has a sleek profile, with smooth, glossy feathers that provide an almost metallic sheen to their bodies. Male Brewer’s Blackbirds sport a uniformly black coloration, stark against their yellow-colored eyes. Their bodies take on a glossy purple-blue iridescence when viewed in sunlight. Female Brewer’s Blackbirds, on the other hand, are a bit more modest in their presentation, with a primarily darkish brown to charcoal gray body. Their eyes are dark brown, creating a less striking contrast than their male counterparts. Both males and females have a medium-long, sharply pointed beak and a notably long tail.
3. Size
On average, these birds range between 20–25cm (8–10 inches) in length. Their wingspan can stretch between 36–42cm (14–16.5 inches). Typical weight ranges between 60–95g, making the Brewer’s Blackbird a relatively small bird.
4. Habitat & Distribution
The Brewer’s Blackbird is widely spread across North America. Their habitats extend from the Great Lakes to the Pacific coast and northwards, reaching the southern regions of Canada. They can also be found further south, in parts of Mexico. Brewer’s Blackbirds typically prefer open areas with low vegetation like wetlands, meadows, and savannas. However, they are also common in human-inhabited areas like towns and agricultural lands, showing a remarkable adaptability.
5. Interesting Facts
One of the key distinctive behaviors of Brewer’s Blackbirds stems from their highly social nature. They often form large nesting colonies, a trait that’s effective in deterring predators. Uniquely, they are one of few bird species that practice ‘anting’- an unusual behavior where birds either allow ants to crawl on their bodies or they apply crushed ants onto their feathers.
6. Diet
Brewer’s Blackbirds are omnivores. Their primary diet includes seeds, berries, and insects. They also feed on small invertebrates and occasionally eat small fishes and eggs of other bird species.
7. Behavior & Sounds
Brewer’s Blackbirds are known for their aerial display during the mating season. Males can often be seen striking impressive poses; wings extended and tails fanned, and bowing deeply to attract females. Their call is a harsh, metallic ‘chack’ that’s typically not considered melodious.
8. Conservation Status
According to the IUCN Red List, the Brewer’s Blackbird is classified as ‘Least Concern’. Their population is large and spread across a vast range.
9. Lifespan
In the wild, Brewer’s Blackbirds typically live between 10-12 years. Longevity data for captive birds is not well documented.
10. Additional Notes
In terms of local names, they are commonly known as ‘Blackbird’ in English and ‘Zanate del norte’ in Spanish. Depending on the location and time of the year, they can either be beneficial or harmful to human activities. They can be very valuable in their consumption of harmful insects but their tendency to eat crops, especially during harvest time, have occasionally brought them into conflict with farmers.
