Blackbird ID Guide: Learn to Spot These 10 Common Species Like a Pro!

Blackbirds can be difficult to identify. They often flock together, can look different in the sun and the shade, and can look quite similar to each other. Learn how to identify 10 of the most common species you might see in the United States (not including orioles which are also in the blackbird family).
0:15 Red-winged Blackbird
0:58 Common Grackle
1:44 Brown-headed Cowbird
2:25 Great-tailed Grackle
3:07 Boat-tailed Grackle
4:18 Yellow-headed Blackbird
4:59 Brewer's Blackbird
5:32 Rusty Blackbird
6:25 Bronzed Cowbird
7:10 Tricolored Blackbird
8:00 Other non-blackbirds that are black: European Starling, American Crow, Common Raven
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Thanks to Terry Sohl for allowing us to use his range maps
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Tricolored Blackbird images by Becky Matsubara, Charles Gates, Always a Birder!, Matt Elyash, Bettina Arrigoni (Public Domain or CC by 2.0)
Bronzed Cowbird "Dracula" photo, Common Raven by Alan Schmierer (Public Domain)
Male Rusty Blackbird image by Andy Reago and Chrissy McClarren (CC by 2.0)
Common Grackle photo during vocalization by N. Lewis (Public Domain)
Cowbird egg in nest by Galawebdesign (CC by 3.0) and Yellowthroat feeding cowbird by Agathman (CC by 4.0)
Yellow-headed Blackbird female and bird over song by Tom Koerner (Public Domain)
Common Grackle in cover image by N. Lewis (Public Domain, edited), others by Alan Schmierer (Public Domain, edited, also seen in slides)
Yellow-headed Blackbird, Common Grackle, and American Crow vocalizations by Jonathon Jongsma: XC179677, XC131091, XC112829 (Used under CC by 3.0, thanks to Xeno Canto)
Common Grackle range map modified from Surachit, Yellow-headed, Brewer's, Rusty, Tricolored, Great-tailed, and Boat-tailed, and Red-winged Blackbird modified from Cephas (CC by 3.0)
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All other photos and videos by Derek and Ryan Sallmann
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[@BadgerlandBirding]

Hope you enjoyed this video! Please consider subscribing for more bird and birding content! 0:15 Red-winged Blackbird 0:58 Common Grackle 1:44 Brown-headed Cowbird 2:25 Great-tailed Grackle 3:07 Boat-tailed Grackle 4:18 Yellow-headed Blackbird 4:59 Brewer's Blackbird 5:32 Rusty Blackbird 6:25 Bronzed Cowbird 7:10 Tricolored Blackbird 8:00 Other non-blackbirds that are black: European Starling, American Crow, Common Raven

[@cjslagss]

Got to see some Rusty Blackbirds in Dutchess County NY this weekend which was a lifer for me 😊

[@BadgerlandBirding]

Congrats on the lifer!

[@prairiedog840]

great video

[@BadgerlandBirding]

Thanks!

[@prairiedog840]

@@BadgerlandBirding your welcome

[@antlerking69]

" Blackbird singing in the dead of night" Paul McCartney 😂

[@BadgerlandBirding]

🐦‍⬛

[@establ]

The Common blackbird which Paul McCartney sang about is actually a thrush. It's related to the American robin.

[@antlerking69]

@@establ Beatles trivia is always great to have 👍🏼

[@susanbrown4891]

Video is great. Thank you.🐦‍⬛

[@barbaracole709]

Nice video! I am seeing lots of boat-tailed grackles and red-winged blackbirds now in coastal SC!.

[@BadgerlandBirding]

That checks out! :)

[@okay_birds]

NICE! Female Red-winged Blackbirds are some of the most endearing and beautiful creatures I've met, and putting up with the males, they should be sainted already! Cheers, Declan 🐦🦉🤗

[@Beryllahawk]

Your timing is great, hehe - I was just about to comb through your older videos to look at starling info again! We saw a half-dozen or so just the other day, first ones my son and I can definitely say "yes that WAS a starling!" Slowly learning our local birds has been great!

[@BadgerlandBirding]

We do have a whole video about the starlings introduction into the USA if you want to check that one out!

[@lukeocasio2784]

Grackle GANG RISE UP!!!!!!!!!

[@BadgerlandBirding]

🐦‍⬛ 🐦‍⬛ 🐦‍⬛

[@ShepStevVidEOs]

Brewer’s blackbirds are some of my favorites! I’d like to go up to where tricolors live and find some.

[@BadgerlandBirding]

They can be tricky to find! But they’re super cool

[@maryannhelpern9682]

Saw red winged blackbirds all the time growing up in Northern NJ - since moving to the triad in NC ( Greensboro- high Point - Winston Salem ) I have never seen one (35+years) we have so many birds in our backyard- but ….🐾🤨

[@NathanWebb-c5h]

Brown-headed cowbirds often come to my back porch to eat birdseed.

[@AshleyBird]

New ivory billed woodpecker sighting!!!

[@BadgerlandBirding]

Link or it didn’t happen

[@aj2isotadxing]

Great. Video. What are some tips for memorizing species by sight. Especially similar ones like herring gulls and ring billed gulls etc.

[@BadgerlandBirding]

Having an ID App like Merlin or a field guide with you is a big help so you can reference it throughout your trip!

[@garymeredith2441]

Great episode they're Derek , one of the birds ( that is Black ) you might want to add next time you do a story , is the Chihuahuan Raven would you see in AZ around the Sonoita and Patagonia area and they can even be seen near Sierra Vista as well .

[@Landbeorht]

5:32 this was wild

[@Boone0111]

OMG! New ivory billed sighting

[@BadgerlandBirding]

Link?

[@Boone0111]

@@BadgerlandBirding Look up ivory billed sighting

[@peahummer2360]

Thank you, I live in SE Ga. and there are 2 different size Crow's here, the Fish Crow and Common Crow with the Fish Crow noticeably smaller in size. My question is do they inter-breed? The Fish Crows seem to be 'flockier' than the Common, even during the winter season where they both remain throughout. Thank you

[@BadgerlandBirding]

I haven’t heard of them interbreeding but I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s happened at some point

[@boredwarlock5216]

Can't believe starlings were introduced. I don't know why but I have a grudge against those clowns.

[@BadgerlandBirding]

We have a whole video all about their introduction if you’re interested in learning more

[@DisappointedSquirrel]

Did you see the new ivory-billed woodpecker sighting?

[@BadgerlandBirding]

Which one?

[@DisappointedSquirrel]

@@BadgerlandBirding The one an hour ago

[@BadgerlandBirding]

@@DisappointedSquirrel link?

[@Boone0111]

@@BadgerlandBirding Google

[@antlerking69]

Brewers eating a Cheeto 😂

[@BadgerlandBirding]

Classic

[@RoseGrace100]

Oh wow. Brown headed cowbird-didn’t know they lay their eggs in other birds nests.

[@vandamner]

Very informative thank you