Brewer's Blackbird

Euphagus cyanocephalus

New World Blackbirds, Troupials, and Allies · Passeriformes · Common

The Brewer's Blackbird (Euphagus cyanocephalus) is a common new world blackbirds, troupials, and alli found in 3 countries, weighing about 62 g. Brewer's blackbird is a medium-sized New World blackbird.

Near ThreatenedCommonEats invertebrateshumancavity nest62 g

About the Brewer's Blackbird

Brewer's blackbird is a medium-sized New World blackbird. It is named after the ornithologist Thomas Mayo Brewer.

Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

How to identify it

Adult males have black plumage with an iridescent purple head and neck and glossy bluish-green highlights on the rest of the body. The feet and legs are black and the eye is bright yellow. The female is brownish-grey with slight hints of the male's iridescence. The female's eyes are dark brown, while the male's is bright yellow. Overall, they resemble the eastern member of the same genus, the rusty blackbird; Brewer's blackbird, however, has a shorter bill and the male's head is iridescent purple. This bird is often mistaken for the common grackle but has a shorter tail.

What the Brewer's Blackbird sounds like

Recording: Jonathon Jongsma · CC BY-SA 3.0 · via xeno-canto
Recording: Jonathon Jongsma · CC BY-SA 3.0 · via xeno-canto

Where it lives

When to see it

The Brewer's Blackbird can be seen all year round, with peak activity in May. It is a resident species across most of its range.

Easily confused with

Quick questions

How do you identify a Brewer's Blackbird?
Adult males have black plumage with an iridescent purple head and neck and glossy bluish-green highlights on the rest of the body. Full identification notes are on this page.
How big is a Brewer's Blackbird?
The Brewer's Blackbird is a medium sized bird weighing about 62 g.
Where can you see a Brewer's Blackbird?
The Brewer's Blackbird occurs in 3 countries, including the United States, Canada and Mexico.
What does a Brewer's Blackbird sound like?
You can listen to 2 field recordings of the Brewer's Blackbird on this page, contributed to xeno-canto under open licences.
What birds look similar to a Brewer's Blackbird?
The Brewer's Blackbird is most easily confused with the Rusty Blackbird.
Is the Brewer's Blackbird endangered?
The Brewer's Blackbird is listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List.

Learn the Brewer's Blackbird for real

BeakBrain drills you on photos and calls until you can greet this bird by name in the field. Free to play, on any device.

Play BeakBrain

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