You can rule out Brewer's blackbird which would be rare in this area at 
anytime. However according to the bird books they differ in that the Rusty 
Blackbird has a longer bill that is somewhat decurved, a shorter tail and is 
less glossy. All this can be seen in your photos. The males do both however 
have white eyes distinguishing them from Red-winged Blackbird with epaulets 
somehow obscured. Common Grackle is larger and longer tailed and clearly 
iridescent.

Phil Brody

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Derek C. Richardson" <>
To: <>
Sent: Saturday, December 20, 2008 12:19 PM
Subject: [MDOSPREY] CONSENSUS Re: [MDOSPREY] Help with bird ID?


> OK, the strong consensus is that the bird featured here:
>
>    http://www.astro.umd.edu/~dcr/xfer/Unknown/
>
> is a male RUSTY BLACKBIRD, which, needless to say, is a yard bird (#99!). 
> :)  (Laurel MD, PG County.)  One question was whether it could be a 
> Brewer's.  It would be nice to definitively rule that out, if possible?
>
> Thanks for everyone's help!!  Nice bird for the CBC. :)
>
> D
>
> -- 
> Derek C. Richardson, Laurel, PG County, MD
> http://www.astro.umd.edu/~dcr/Archives/Photos/birds.html
>