Blackbirds

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General Blackbirds Facts


Introduction

The term blackbird loosely refers to a diverse group of about 10 species of North American birds that belong to the subfamily Icterinae. In addition to
blackbirds, this subfamily includes orioles, meadowlarks, and bobolinks. The
various species of blackbirds have several traits in common. The males are
predominantly black or iridescent in color. All blackbirds have an omnivorous
diet consisting primarily of grains, weed seeds, fruits, and insects. The relative proportions of these food groups, however, vary considerably among species. Outside of the nesting season, blackbirds generally feed in flocks and roost at night in congregations varying from a few birds to over one million birds. These flocks and roosting congregations are sometimes comprised of a single species, but often several species mix together. Sometimes they are joined by non-blackbird species, notably European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) and American robins (Turdus migratorius). The species also have many important
differences in their nesting biology, preferred foods, migration patterns,
and their damage and benefits to agriculture. Summarized below for each of
seven species of blackbirds is information on identification, geographic range, preferred habitats, feeding habits, general biology, and damage. Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)

Identification

The male, a little smaller than a robin, is black with red and yellow shoulder
patches. The smaller female is brownish, resembling a large sparrow (Fig. 1).

Range and Habitat

An abundant nester throughout much of North America, the red-winged blackbird nests in hayfields, marshes, and ditches. Large flocks feed in fields and bottomlands. Redwings winter in the southern United States. Food Habits and General Biology
Insects are the dominant food during the nesting season (May through July), with the diet shifting predominantly to grain and weed seeds in late summer through winter. Males and females often forage in separated flocks, with females being more insectivorous than males. Except during nesting season, redwings congregate in large nighttime roosts in marshes or woods containing
up to several million birds. Annual survival rate is only about 50% to 60%. This high mortality rate is offset by a reproductive rate of 2 to 4 young fledged per female per year. Females have 3 to 5 eggs in their opencup nests made of grasses and other vegetation. Eggs hatch after 12 days of incubation; the young grow rapidly and are ready to fledge about 10 days later. Females will often renest if their initial nest is destroyed.

Damage to Crops

Red-winged blackbirds can cause considerable damage to ripening corn, sunflower, sorghum, and oats in the milk and dough stages, and to sprouting and ripening rice. These birds provide some benefits by feeding on harmful insects, such as rootworm
beetles and corn earworms, and on weed seeds, such as Johnson grass.

Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula)

Identification - An iridescent blackbird larger than a robin, the common grackle has a long keel-shaped tail. The male, slightly larger than the female, has more iridescence on the head and throat (Fig. 2).

Range and Habitat - A common nester throughout North America east of the Rockies, the common grackle nests in shelterbelts, farmyards, marshes, and towns. Flocks feed in fields, lawns, woodlots, and bottomlands. These birds winter in the southern United States, often in association with redwings, cowbirds, and starlings. Food Habits and General Biology The common grackle’s diet is somewhat similar to that of the redwing, but the grackle is more predatory. Its diet occasionally includes small fish, field mice, songbird nestlings, and eggs. Grackles have a larger, stronger bill than redwings, allowing them to feed on acorns and other tree fruits in
E-27 winter. Grackles often roost with redwings, but are more partial to roosting sites in upland deciduous or pine trees. Reproductive and survival rates are similar to redwings.

Damage to Crops - Damage is similar to that of redwings; however, grackles will feed on mature field corn in the dent stage, removing entire kernels from the cob. Also, grackles will pull up sprouting corn.

Great-tailed Grackle (Quiscalus mexicanus)

Identification - This species is similar to the common grackle but with a much larger tail. The male is slightly smaller than a
crow; the female is smaller and browner than the male.

Range and Habitat - An abundant year-round resident in coastal and southern Texas, the greattailed grackle nests in colonies in
shrubs or trees, sometimes in association with herons and egrets. The flocks feed around farms, pastures, and parks.

Food Habits and General Biology - The diet is omnivorous: insects, aquatic organisms, eggs from nesting birds, fruits, and grains. Reproductive and survival rates are similar to those of redwings.

Damage to Crops - These birds damage all types of fruits and melons, although the loss is generally minor. In recent years, however, their damage to citrus crops in localized areas of the lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas has been substantial. Great-tails peck the citrus fruit skin, creating blemishes or holes.

Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater)

Identification - The cowbird is the smallest blackbird. The male is black with a brown head and the female is gray. Both sexes have
sparrowlike bills. The brown-headed cowbird (Molothrus ater), smallest of the blackbirds, often feeds in close association with livestock. The female cowbird (lower) lays her eggs in the nests of other birds.

Range and Habitat - Cowbirds occur in spring and summer throughout much of North America. Flocks feed in pastures and feedlots, and are often associated with livestock. Cowbirds winter in the central to southern United States, often roosting
with redwings, grackles, and starlings.

Food Habits and General Biology - The diet of cowbirds consists predominantly of weed seeds and grains, and less than 25% insects. Cowbirds do not build nests or incubate eggs; the female lays her eggs in nests of other songbirds, the only North American songbird to do so. Females deposit 1 or sometimes 2 eggs per host nest, laying up to 25 or more eggs per nesting
season.

Damage to Crops - This species can cause damage to ripening sorghum, sunflower, and millet. Cowbirds consume some livestock feed, but often glean waste grain and seed from dung. Overall damage is usually minor.

Yellow-headed Blackbird (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus)

Identification - A robin-sized bird, the male has a striking appearance with his black body, conspicuous yellow head and breast, and a white wing patch in flight. The female is smaller and browner, with a yellowish throat and breast.

Range and Habitat - Yellowheads are locally abundant nesters in deep-water marshes of the northern Great Plains and western
North America. They feed in agricultural fields, meadows, and pastures during late summer and fall, sometimes in association with redwings or other blackbirds. They winter farther south than other blackbirds, primarily in Mexico.

Food Habits and General Biology - The diet is similar to that of redwings; yellowheads eat primarily insects during the nesting season and grains and weed seeds at other times. An early migrant, the yellowhead leaves the northern plains by September. Survival and reproductive rates are similar to those of redwings.

Damage to Crops - Yellowheads cause localized but generally minor damage to ripening corn, sunflower, and oats, often in association with redwings. They often leave the northern prairie regions by the time corn and sunflower are ripening in autumn.

Brewer’s Blackbird (Euphagus cyanocephalus)

Identification - A robin-sized bird, the male is all black with whitish eyes; the female is brownish gray with dark eyes.

Range and Habitat - A familiar bird in the northern Great Plains and western North America, the Brewer’s blackbird nests in a diversity of habitats. It prefers pastures, lawns, and agricultural lands for feeding. It is a winter migrant in the central and southern Plains states, sometimes roosting with other blackbird species.

Food Habits and General Biology - The diet is about two-thirds grain and weed seeds, and one-third insects and other animal matter. They feed in flocks on waste grain and weed seeds and nest in colonies. Reproductive and survival rates are similar to those of redwings.

Damage to Crops - Brewer’s blackbirds cause generally minor damage to oats, fruit crops, and livestock feed and consume large
numbers of noxious insects during the summer months.

Rusty Blackbird (Euphagus carolinus)

Identification - Similar to Brewer’s blackbird, its fall and winter plumage has a rusty coloration.

Range and Habitat - Rusty blackbirds nest in northern swamps and muskegs (bogs) throughout Canada, Alaska, and northern
New England. They migrate in winter to the southern United States from the Atlantic coast to east Texas.

Food Habits and General Biology - The diet of rusty blackbirds is more insectivorous than that of other blackbirds. Over 50% of their food is animal matter. Grain (gleaned from harvested fields in fall and winter), weed seeds, and tree fruits are also eaten. In winter,
rusty blackbirds prefer swampy areas and river bottoms. They often roost with other blackbird species.

Damage to Crops - This species does little damage to crops.

Damage Identification and Assessment - Blackbird damage to agricultural crops is often readily discernable because of
the conspicuousness of the flocks of birds and the visible signs of the damage. However, correct identification of the species of birds in the agricultural field is important, along with evidence that the birds are actually feeding on the crop. For example, starlings superficially resemble blackbirds and sometimes feed in cornfields, yet they usually feed on concentrations of insects
such as armyworms, doing little damage to corn. Also, red-winged blackbirds will often be attracted to agricultural fields, such as corn, initially to feed on rootworm beetles and other insect pests. They will not damage the crop itself until the grain has reached
the milk stage. Blackbirds often forage in newly planted grain fields such as winter wheat, feeding on previous crop residue, weed seeds, and insects without bothering the sprouting grain. Blackbird damage is also sometimes confused with other forms of loss. Raccoon and squirrel damage to corn can be mistaken for blackbird damage. Also, seed shatter in sunflower caused by wind may resemble bird damage; however, the difference can usually be detected by examining heads for the presence or absence of
bird droppings and by looking on the ground for hulls or whole seeds. Careful observation of the birds in the field and a little detective work will usually result in the correct identification of damage. Damage to corn by blackbirds (a) and raccoons (b) can sometimes be confused. Blackbirds usually slit or shred the husk and peck out the soft contents of kernels, leaving the kernel coat. Raccoons and squirrels chew through the husk and bite off the kernels. In addition, raccoons often pull stalks down to the ground.
To estimate accurately the amount of blackbird damage in an agricultural field, examine at least 10 locations widely spaced throughout the field. For example, if a field has 100 rows and is 1,000 feet (300 m) long, walk staggered distances of 100 feet (30 m)
along every 10th row (for example, 0 to 100 feet [0 to 30 m] in row 10, 101 to 200 feet [31 to 60 m] in row 20, and so on). In each of the 100-foot (30-m) lengths, randomly select 10 plants and visually estimate the damage on the head or ear of each plant to the nearest 1% (for instance, 2% destroyed, 20% destroyed). For corn, six kernels usually represent about 1% of the corn on an ear; for sunflower, it may be easiest to visually divide the head into four quarters and then estimate the percentage of seeds missing. When finished, simply determine the average damage for the 100 plants examined. This will give an approximation of the percent
loss to the field. Multiplying the percent loss by expected yield can give a rough estimate of yield loss. In small grains, such as rice, estimates of loss are more difficult to obtain. One possibility is to simply compare the yields from plots in damaged and undamaged
sections of a field.

Legal Status

Blackbirds are native migratory birds, and thus come under the jurisdiction of the Federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act, a formal treaty with Canada and Mexico. Blackbirds are given federal protection in the United States. They may be killed only when found “committing or about to commit depredations upon ornamental or shade trees, agricultural crops, livestock, or wildlife, or when concentrated in such numbers and manner as to constitute a health hazard or other nuisance,” as stated in federal laws regarding migratory birds (50 CFR 21). Some states have additional restrictions on the killing of blackbirds.

*The above information was taken from a University of Nebraska Web site with
express permission of Stephen Vatassel, wildlife damage project coordinator.