Brewer's Blackbird

Icterid Species Brown-headed Cowbird Great-tailed Grackle Meadowlark Yellow-headed Blackbird Red-winged Blackbird Bullock's Oriole Hooded Oriole Types of Birds

The Brewer's Blackbird is a very common species in the Western United States.

They breed as far north as Canada and Alaska and winter as far south as Texas and Louisiana. New England and the Northeast states are about the only areas not fully claimed by the species.

Males, like the one in the picture, have dark feathers with a purple sheen. Females, like the one pictured below have a brown and black colored body.

Like other Icterids, they are opportunistic feeders. In residential areas, they will peck at bread crumbs left for other species. They also consume insects and seeds.

Brewer's blackbirds are colony nesters. You can easily identify their nesting sites in residential areas because the groups commonly nest and feed in and around open, highly visible areas. That practice makes picture taking a very easy task.

© 2005-2007 Patricia A. Michaels