On Friday I spotted a very small flock of what I think are Rusty Blackbirds at Huntley Meadows Park. Unlike the much more common Red-winged Blackbirds (Agelaius phoeniceus), Rusty Blackbirds (Euphagus carolinus) like to forage in shallow pools of water at the edge of the woods, so they are often in the shadows
According to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, the Rusty Blackbird is one of North America’s most rapidly declining species of birds. “The population has plunged an estimated 85-99 percent over the past forty years and scientists are completely puzzled as to what is the cause.”
At this non-breeding time of the year, the male and the female have similar coloration, with the male having a darker head and breast. I may have captured a male in the first photo and a female in the second or they may both be females, with the differences caused by changed lighting in the two images.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
That’s interesting. I’ve never even heard of this bird. I wonder if the state people who track such rarities would be interested in seeing your photos.
I’m not sure about the state folks, but someone who read my Facebook post with these photos suggested that inform the park staff about the sighting.
These birds are tracked carefully throughout their migratory range, and lots if birders get very excited when a group wanders into their area. What a great sighting, Mike.