North American Bird Search Box
This search box can be used to find bird species using bird's english, french or latin name, or to identify bird by its 4 letter Alpha Code
Field Guide for all the Birds of North America
Brewer's Blackbird
4 Letter (english names) Alpha Code: BRBL (1)
Quiscale de Brewer
Euphagus cyanocephalus
Information, images and range maps on over 1,000 birds of North America, including sub-species, vagrants, introduced birds and possibilities
Species: The Brewer's Blackbird (Euphagus cyanocephalus) is one of the most common blackbirds seen in North America. It is able to use a more varied habitat than some although it does require marshes but can exist in fields, riparian woodlands and even in towns and cities, in the winter months.
Distinctions: The male has yellow eyes and an all-black shiny plumage. It is seen this way all year around, giving off an iridescent blue to purplish sheen. The female has dark coloured eyes and a greyish black plumage. The juvenile is very similar to the female. It can be a challenge to distinguish the Brewer's Blackbird from the Rusty Blackbird as both bird types are similar in size, both have an all-black plumage, but when seen in breeding plumage, the male Rusty Blackbird's features show more of a green iridescent sheen.
Voice: Single call notes, some similarity to other types of blackbirds.
Nesting: Four to five light grey to light greenish, with smudges of brown spots. Nests are built low to the ground in shrubs and trees or on the ground itself and are composed of grasses and plant materials.
Life, Habitat & Pictures of North American Blackbirds
| B L | W W | W | Family | Latin Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9" 23cm | 15.5" 39.4cm | 2.2oz 62.4g | Icteridae | Euphagus cyanocephalus |
North American Bird Calls
- Tap to hear Choice 1
- Summer
- Year Around
- Winter
Distribution: Found in a more diverse environment than most blackbirds, ranges from fields, riparian landscape and even city parks. This blackbird is accustomed to people. Seen from east of the Great Lakes to northern British Columbia, south to southern California and east to northern Florida.
References to Other Bird Sites:
Avibase - the world bird database This site provides the user with a complete list of bird species, broken down per country, or in the example of the US or Canada, per state and province. Here, bird species names are available in other languages, a great asset to be used as a translation of foreign bird names.
ABA - American Birding Association This site represents an organization that maintains official records of all birds species that have been proven to have been seen inside the perimeters of the North American Continent and the surrounding bodies of water. Regular revised versions are posted to keep the bird list current at all times. This is the list used by all serious birders over their lifetime. You may be aware of the movie called the "Big Year". It was with this list that all the competing birders used in an attempt to set a new record as to how many bird species that could be seen by an individual birder in one calendar year.
I hope you will take advantage of these suggested websites. I have used each of them, in one way or another, throughout the years in my quest to better identify and understand our fine feathered friends.