Rusty Blackbirds – Where You Might Find them in the Winter

By Charles L Harmon

Blackbirds are fairly common birds that fly all over the world but there is one rather rare species that lives only in North America. This is the elusive rusty blackbird, which stays mostly in the swampy regions of Alaska and Canada during most of the year. In winter time, rusty blackbirds migrate to warmer areas of North America.

Their general appearance is quite similar to other blackbirds but if you take a closer look, you can tell them apart by their narrow and pointed beaks and yellow eyes. Female rusty blackbirds also have a light gray coloring on their faces and undersides. During winter, both males and females develop a rust-colored plumage, which is how they got their name.

Natural Habitats of the Rusty Blackbird

Are you a birdwatching enthusiast who wants to catch a glimpse of this unique blackbird species? You first need to study the rusty blackbird’s migration patterns. Rusty blackbirds stay in their usual habitats for most of the year but as soon as winter sets in, they fly south to warmer areas. This is also the time when they start molting and changing their feathers.

Rusty blackbirds are known for their love of the water. During breeding season, they stay around the swampy woods and tree-lined rivers of Northern Alaska and various parts of Canada, all the way down to Alberta, Manitoba, and the central part of Saskatchewan. Come wintertime, they flock to the eastern coastal states of Florida, Maine, Virginia, North Carolina, and other nearby areas.

Some rusty blackbirds even venture as far south as Mexico during winter, while some stay closer to home and stay in Quebec and southern Ontario. These birds are quite sociable and can often be seen flying with other blackbird species, particularly as they migrate to the south. Rusty blackbirds also feed in flocks during the winter, with frequent sightings in the fields of Iowa, Nebraska, Michigan, and Massachusetts.

According to birdwatchers’ reports, the largest flock of feeding migrating rusty blackbirds has constantly been seen in the Lower Mississippi Valley. Other large groups of rusty blackbirds have also been witnessed in Piedmont and in the south Atlantic coastal plain. If you live near these areas, you might get a good look at these rare blackbirds during their migration season.

Breeding Areas of the Rusty Blackbird

If you don’t want to wait until winter time to see these precious blackbirds, what you can do is search for their nesting areas. Rusty blackbirds generally make their nests in the treetops or over the brush in isolated wetlands. Wet coniferous woods and muskeg swamps are the best places to start looking for these nests.

Water is probably the most important factor to consider when locating the nests of the rusty blackbirds. They always breed and build nests in areas that are close to water sources, such as rivers, streams, and swamps in the middle of the woods.

However, when breeding time is over, rusty blackbirds will come out of their protected hiding places and will usually be seen in open woodlands, feeding on grains and other insects. They are not that timid with humans so you can probably get up close and personal and have a good view of their beautiful rusty winter plumage.