Brewer's Blackbird (Euphagus cyanocephalus)

County List:

Rule:

Forested or Mixed Forested/Nonforested Landscapes

      Bog
      or Treed Bog
      or Marsh 2

Habitat List:

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Literature:

Habitat: The Brewer's Blackbird is found in a wide variety of habitats. In Michigan, the species is found in areas of wet soils, including muck fields and sphagnum bogs, drier upland habitats, such as clearcuts, and also in urban habitats. This corresponds with a similar flexibility in habitat usage noted in other states. Nests in Michigan typically are found on the ground, although in other states occasional nests have been found as high as 48 m in various types of vegetation, including both coniferous and deciduous trees. Nests are constructed of twigs and grasses and are often strengthened by use of mud or other material. The nest is lined with grasses, rootlets, or hair.

Diet, like nesting habitat, seems varied with both vegetable and animal materials utilized. Walkinshaw and Zimmerman (1961) found nest success quite high. Causes for nest failure included flooding and destruction by agriculture.

The expansion was most likely caused by human alteration of the environment, resulting in the removal of migrational barriers, such as mature woodlands, and the production of suitable nesting habitats, such as fields and edges.

Habitat: Prefers to be near water in habitats such as riparian woodlands, aspen groves, parklands, agricultural lands, disturbed grasslands, and marshes; often found near human habitations, especially in eastern parts of its range. Uses bulrushes and pines for roosting and daytime resting places and displays from the tops of pine trees. Nests singly or in loose colonies on the ground or in trees and shrubs 6 to 10 m above the ground. Places the cup-shaped nest usually at or near the end of a branch. Commonly parasitized by cowbirds. In winter, frequents pastures and fields.

Special Habitat Requirements: Marshes, agricultural areas.

Habitat: Fields, prairies, farms, parks. Occurs in many kinds of open and semi-open country, including shrubby areas near water, streamside woods, aspen groves in mountain meadows, shores, farmland, irrigated or plowed fields. Often around human habitations, foraging on suburban lawns and in city parking lots.

Diet: Mostly insects and seeds, some berries. Feeds on a wide variety of insects, including grasshoppers, crickets, beetles, aphids, caterpillars, termites; also some spiders, snails, tiny crustaceans. Eats many seeds of grasses and weeds, plus some waste grain. Also eats berries, especially in summer.

Nest: Site is quite variable; usually in tree 20-40 feet above ground, but may be on ground among tall grass, in bushes, or in crevice in cliff. Nest is a rather bulky open cup made of twigs, grass, weeds, and pine needles, lined with fine grass, rootlets, animal hair. Often has mud or dried manure added to base.