IKLland Posted May 31 Share Posted May 31 Seen today in Menifee(Riverside county), Ca. Thinking Rusty due to the pale eye and the overall rusty coloration. The only angle I have. With a large flock of other blackbirds in an open field. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tanager 101 Posted May 31 Share Posted May 31 I see nothing wrong with Rusty, I am not an expert though. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IKLland Posted May 31 Author Share Posted May 31 @DLecy@The Bird Nuts @Avery @blackburnian, any thoughts? Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avery Posted May 31 Share Posted May 31 That looks like a brood patch… 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackburnian Posted May 31 Share Posted May 31 This does not look like a Rusty to me. 4 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IKLland Posted May 31 Author Share Posted May 31 1 minute ago, blackburnian said: This does not look like a Rusty to me. Just wondering, why? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
millipede Posted May 31 Share Posted May 31 I'm no expert and I only see these when passing through around winter migration but, I'd expect a male rusty to be darker and a female to be lighter in color, and have a pale eyebrow. I wont try to ID it though. I'd want to lean towards brewer's... or even a grackle. Can the bird just turn to the side a little? HA 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackburnian Posted May 31 Share Posted May 31 3 minutes ago, IKLland said: Just wondering, why? It’s off structurally and totally lacks the splotchy plumage of a Rusty as well as the strong supercilium. Also, it would be rare. 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IKLland Posted May 31 Author Share Posted May 31 3 minutes ago, millipede said: I'm no expert and I only see these when passing through around winter migration but, I'd expect a male rusty to be darker and a female to be lighter in color, and have a pale eyebrow. I wont try to ID it though. I'd want to lean towards brewer's... or even a grackle. Can the bird just turn to the side a little? HA Definitely not a grackle. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IKLland Posted May 31 Author Share Posted May 31 1 minute ago, blackburnian said: It’s off structurally and totally lacks the splotchy plumage of a Rusty as well as the strong supercilium. Also, it would be rare. Got it. I know it would be rare. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
millipede Posted May 31 Share Posted May 31 Just now, IKLland said: Definitely not a grackle. ha... I didn't really think so... just being honest about how not confident I'd be trying to ID this given the angle of the pose. Turn your head little birdy... ha... 4 minutes ago, blackburnian said: as well as the strong supercilium or eyebrow, as ignorant people like me call it. That was enough for me to be certain it wasn't a rusty. So... if not a rusty... what is it? You got me curious now. 🙂 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IKLland Posted May 31 Author Share Posted May 31 7 minutes ago, millipede said: So... if not a rusty... what is it? You got me curious now. 🙂 If it’s not rusty, the only other option is Brewer’s. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DLecy Posted May 31 Share Posted May 31 It would be more than rare. It would be almost extraordinary. There is only a single record for Rusty Blackbird in the May-June window on eBird in the whole state of CA, and it was at the beginning of May. RUBL’s are essentially unknown during spring migration in CA. Here is that checklist, which shows the differences of your bird and a RUBL quite well. https://ebird.org/checklist/S87348212 If you are going to find a RUBL in CA, it’s gonna be in winter. 4 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hasan Posted June 1 Share Posted June 1 Rusty is also a bird of wet areas. Think forest floor, creeks, marshy areas. From a behavior/location standpoint it doesn't make much sense for Rusty 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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