Brewer's Blackbird Identification Guide
A widespread western blackbird with a glossy purple-and-green sheen and pale yellow eye in males, common in open country, parking lots, and farmland.
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Key Field Marks
- Size & shape: A medium-sized blackbird, about 22 cm, with a fairly long tail (not keel-shaped like a grackle's) and a straight, pointed bill.
- Male: Glossy black overall with an iridescent purple sheen on the head and greenish sheen on the body, plus a distinctive pale yellow eye.
- Female: Plain brownish-gray overall, lacking iridescence, with a dark eye (not yellow).
- Posture: Often walks with a jaunty, strutting gait on the ground, frequently in small to large flocks.
Separating from Similar Species
- Common Grackle: Noticeably larger with a long, keel-shaped (V-folded) tail and a longer, heavier bill; Brewer's Blackbird has a proportionately shorter, flatter tail.
- Rusty Blackbird: Nonbreeding Rusty Blackbird shows warm rusty edging on the feathers, especially in fall/winter, and both sexes have pale eyes; male Brewer's is uniformly glossy black with no rusty tones at any season, and female Brewer's has a dark eye versus the female Rusty's paler eye.
- Brown-headed Cowbird: Male cowbird has a solid brown head contrasting with a glossy black body; Brewer's Blackbird male is uniformly glossy black-headed with no brown.
Habitat, Range & Season
- Highly adaptable, found in open country, agricultural fields, parking lots, city parks, golf courses, and suburban areas.
- Breeds across western and central North America, with the range continuing to expand eastward.
- Many populations are resident or short-distance migrants; northern and high-elevation breeders move south in winter, when large mixed flocks with other blackbirds are common.
Voice
- Calls include a harsh, short "check" or "chuck" note.
- Song is a short, unmusical, creaking or squeaky "que-ee" or "k-shee," often described as rusty-hinge-like.
Frequently asked questions
How do I tell a male Brewer's Blackbird from a Common Grackle?
Brewer's Blackbird is smaller with a shorter, flat tail, while Common Grackle is larger with a long, keel-shaped tail that looks folded into a V in flight.
Does Brewer's Blackbird have a yellow eye?
Males do have a pale yellow eye, but females have a dark eye — eye color alone isn't enough to separate the sexes from some other blackbirds, so check overall plumage too.
Where is a good place to find Brewer's Blackbird?
Open habitats across western and central North America — parking lots, farm fields, city parks, and golf courses are all reliable spots.
What does Brewer's Blackbird sound like?
A short, creaky, unmusical "que-ee" song and a sharp "check" call note, less liquid and musical than many other blackbirds.