Rusty Blackbird

Fairbanks, Alaska

I was hoping to see a Rusty Blackbird since their populations are in such decline. The rusty patches on their shoulders are especially noticeable in spring, before the bird molts into its glossy black breeding plumage.

Interesting Fact: Rusty Blackbird populations have fallen by an estimated 85–95% since the 1960s, one of the steepest declines of any North American songbird.