Hi Paul,

My guess is that it's a question very similar to Purple vs. Bronzed Grackles. They're probably regular in Maryland, but there aren't many people looking! Although there may be contention about the subspecies' status, the Newfoundland/Black-backed subspecies (nigrideus) is the only form I know of that is attributed as having the truly black crown, nape, and back. (Of course there is probably some gradient somewhere.)

Marshall Iliff shared some subspecies notes that listed their status in Maryland as follows: "Regular; status unclear. Presumably a low-density migrant and wintering subspecies in Maryland based on records in surrounding states..."

Like Bronzed Grackles and Gambel's White-crowned Sparrows, I expect Black-backed Robins can be found regularly in Maryland if actively sought. That being said, I have been looking pretty carefully for a couple years now and have seen just this one Black-backed Robin that we were confident calling. Like others have suggested regarding grackle subspecies in the past, I would suggest that more of us look for and report this subspecies. Any additional photo documentation we can get of the subspecies might also allow us to synchronize on what we want to label as this subspecies. Of course, all of this is coming from someone who thinks he's seen a total of one of these birds!  I'd love to hear others' opinions.

Either way, it's exciting that there are still so many things to better understand. If there are unanswered questions about ROBINS, what does that say about sharp-tailed sparrows and damselflies? :)

Good birding!

Bill

Bill Hubick
Pasadena, Maryland

http://www.billhubick.com

--- On Thu, 2/19/09, Paul Bystrak <> wrote:


Are there more than more than one black-backed form of American Robin?  I was not aware that black-backed robins are at all unusual in Maryland.  If memory serves, the first time I saw one was on the Ocean City Christmas Count in 1964.  I was a high school student, covering the South Point territory with Gladys Cole.  At one point she said, in her beautiful South Carolina drawl, "Oh look, there's a Yankee Robin!"  with Yankee said in such a tone that it wasn't necessarily a complement.  She explained to me that the ones with the black backs come from the farthest north, and to them, a South Point winter was like a summer vacation.  They seem to be regular but uncommon on the lower shore, and always remind me of her.  Of the 4 robins at my bird bath this morning, one was a black-backed individual.  Speaking of robins, I have a regular robin coming to my feeder to eat raisins - the first time I have ever seen that.  He stops by 5-6 times and goes
 through a handful a day. He likes tart cherry raisins too, but so do I and they are very expensive, so he gets the cheap Wal-Mart raisins.

Paul Bystrak

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