Rusty Blackbird Special Concern STATUS Not Listed Nova Scotia Euphagus Carolinus Nigrans

29 Rusty Blackbird Special Concern STATUS Not Listed Nova Scotia Euphagus carolinus nigrans

Infrequently sighted throughout the province with an unknown population size. Winters in the east-central United States. Population Range Habitat In Canada, the nigrans subspecies occurs only in Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Quebec. It breeds from April to August in coniferous-dominated

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I wooded streams, swamps, and bogs. It is also found in wet forested areas near M I L

N beaver ponds. U

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Species Description N O S R E T T T E R R P

The Rusty Blackbird is medium- A A Y W W R E E O T T T S S

sized (21-25 cm), with yellow eyes, a R Y Y E K K C C G E E pale yellow eye ring, and a narrow O B B R

Y B © ©

pointed bill. Males are glossy black , L

N Beaver pond

with a greenish tinge and females are F O

T N dark grey-brown. They have black E Rusty Blackbirds are typically observed near wet areas in coniferous- M N R legs and feet and a rounded tail. E dominated forests. They tend to be solitary, unlike other gregarious V O G blackbird species. © Interesting Points Threats to Survival The Canadian breeding population is thought to contain 70% of the The conversion of Rusty Blackbirds in the world! wetland breeding This species may have declined by 85% over the last 40 years. habitat to agricultural or There are similar declines in several other bird species (e.g. Olive-sided urban land. Flycatcher, Chimney Swift) with the same habitat and food requirements Loss of wintering habitat (insects). in the Mississippi Valley flood plain forests E

Similar Species (reduced by 80% over I K C E L

the last 150 years). E K O

Blackbird control O R B A

programs in the United E

Common Grackle: S

States. © Larger (28-34 cm); longer bill and tail; black Female plumage with greenish-purple iridescence to the head, neck and breast; tail is keeled How You Can Help (v-shaped). A n y i n f o r m a t i o n o n distribution and habitat will help in our understanding of this species. Report Brown-headed Cowbird: s i g h t i n g s a n d n e s t Smaller (17-22 cm); shorter bill and tail; dark eyes. Males: brown head; shiny black body with o b s e r v a t i o n s t o t h e green-blue iridescence. Females: solid brown-gray. Maritimes Breeding Bird Atlas (www.mba-aom.ca/) E and Maritimes Nest Record P O H

M M Contact: Environment Canada (506) 364-5044 or www.ec.gc.ca O O O O T T