Euphagus cyanocephalus
The Brewer's Blackbird (*Euphagus cyanocephalus*) is a striking and highly adaptable member of the Icteridae family, closely related to the Rusty Blackbird and other iconic New World icterids. Males are instantly recognizable by their glossy, iridescent black plumage, which shimmers with a purplish-blue sheen on the head and neck, transitioning to a greenish-blue across the body, all dramatically highlighted by piercing, pale yellow eyes. They typically measure 20-25 cm (8-10 inches) in lengt...
A highly adaptable species, Brewer's Blackbirds thrive in open country, including agricultural fields, suburban parks, golf courses, pastures, and urban environments, often near water. They are typically found at low to mid-elevations.
These omnivorous birds primarily consume insects, especially during the breeding season, supplementing their diet with seeds, grains, and some berries. They forage mainly by walking on the ground, gleaning food items.
Brewer's Blackbirds are diurnal and remarkably social, frequently forming large communal roosts in trees or dense vegetation outside the breeding season, sometimes numbering in the thousands and often mixed with other blackbirds and starlings. They are primarily ground foragers, methodically walk...
The Brewer's Blackbird is widely distributed across western North America, showcasing a remarkable capacity for adaptation. Its primary breeding range extends from southern Canada, encompassing British Columbia, Alberta, and Saskatchewan, southward through the western and central United States, r...
Least Concern
- Male Brewer's Blackbirds are one of the few blackbird species with striking pale yellow eyes, a key identification feature distinguishing them from the similar Common Grackle (which has pale eyes but different body iridescence and tail shape). - They are remarkably adaptable, often seen foragin...