Brewer’s blackbird

Female Brewer's blackbird perched on barbed wire with insects in her beak, against a soft green background

The Brewer’s blackbird is a medium-sized, long-tailed blackbird of open country. Males are glossy black with a purple sheen on the head, a green sheen on the body, and a pale yellow eye, while females are a plain grey-brown with a dark eye.

Brewer’s blackbirds spend the summer in southern Manitoba, where they nest in loose colonies and are often seen around fields, pastures, and farmyards. They walk along the ground with a nodding head, feeding on insects in summer and on seeds and waste grain later in the year.

I like how the glossy sheen and pale eye of the male stand out against the plain grey-brown female, who is carrying insects in these photographs.

To find out more about the Brewer’s blackbird and the places it lives, visit All About Birds.

Field notes in photographs

  • Brewer's blackbird - male brown-headed cowbird perched on a wooden fence post
  • Brewer's blackbird - female brown-headed cowbird perched on a wooden fence post

Brewer’s blackbird Manitoba sightings

Where and when you can find the Brewer’s blackbird in Manitoba depends on the season and the habitat. You can see more species in the Manitoba birds section.

Map of Manitoba showing where the brewer's blackbird nests, with major cities and lakes
Where to look for the brewer’s blackbird in Manitoba through the seasons: nesting in the Boreal Plains and the Prairies (gold). Habitat regions: National Ecological Framework for Canada. Boundaries: Statistics Canada. Lakes: Natural Earth.

Back to Manitoba bird photography, or see the portfolio.

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