There are a number of reasons why I decided to take on this project. My first reason has to do with my interest in birds. This began shortly after moving to Victoria ten and a half years ago. With our house backing onto a wooded area, the chirping of birds is a familiar sound all year long. I often glance out the window to see birds of all forms in the yard throughout the day. Frequently I will pull out the Birds of Victoria or Birds of North America reference guides we have on hand. Unfortunately, the drawings in the first aren’t overly helpful for identification and the number of entries in the second is overwhelming. My second reason has to do with a photography course I took a number of years ago. Since that time I have been trying to think of a practical reason to buy a new camera. Taking pictures of birds requires a powerful zoom lens which my previous point-and-shoot camera could not accommodate. Perfect! My final reason was my desire to take on a new project to welcome in 2011. Hence, bird of the day was born.



Sunday, January 3, 2021

Rusty Blackbird

 Euphagus carolinus

Appearance: 
Medium-sized blackbird
Pale yellow eye
Slender, slightly decurved bill
Male (breeding):
     Glossy black
 Male (non-breeding):
     Rusty feather edges 
     Bold eyebrow
Female :
    Grey-brown
    Rusty feather edges
    Bold eyebrow
    Darker feathers around eye

Listen to its call. 

With a new year upon us and COVID making it difficult to do much else, I've decide to ramp up my birding a bit.  Friday netted me a distant view of a Wilson's Snipe and a Black Phoebe in Central Saanich.  This afternoon, I made a trip to King's Pond in search of a Rusty Blackbird that has been hanging about lately  Happily, I located it in a large flock of Brewer's Blackbirds that flew in to partake of the bird seed liberally scattered on the ground by the many families enjoying the sunshine. 

Learn more about the Rusty Blackbird. 
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