CLOSED: Rusty Blackbird?

If it is, it's a lifer, and it's not supposed to be here.

My first thought was a Brown-headed Cowbird but nope, it sure looks like a Rusty!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rusty_Blackbird

http://www.google.com/images?hl=en&expIds=17259,25658,26637,26649,26699,27356,27360,27404,27446&sugexp=ldymls&xhr=t&q=rusty+blackbird&cp=7&um=1&ie=UTF-8&source=univ&ei=TXPUTNKNAsGBlAe1zIXeBQ&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&ct=title&resnum=1&sqi=2&ved=0CC0QsAQwAA&biw=1280&bih=701

http://davesgarden.com/guides/birdfiles/go/414/

Hopefully one of the more experienced birders will pop in with confirmation and exact ID.

Tricky to rule out a paler-than-normal winter plumage Brewer's, which is the 'obvious' option for the area, but I'd guess this is odd enough to be worth posting to the Oregon records committee for their opinion. Sibley shows a couple of green spots for Rusty in Oregon, but it does look decidedly rare there.

Certainly not a cowbird, much too slender-billed.

Resin

Resin: Thank you for being a part of this wonderful website and sharing your vast knowledge, it is greatly appreciated!

I missed the fact that the Rusty isn't usually seen in tigerlily's area of the country! After enlarging the photo I knew it wasn't the Brown-headed Cowbird.

Tigerlily: Here's the link to Bird Files with pic's of the Brewer's Blackbird: http://davesgarden.com/guides/birdfiles/go/678/

I looked at pictures in my Florida Bird Book, and your photo looks a lot like a photo of the Brewer's Blackbird showing fall variant colors.

I was still going through the photos and intended to post a couple more when company showed up. Here's one showing part of the back.

I've seen lots of Brewer's, but never one that was mottled like this. I will contact other Oregon birders. I was just hoping for a positive ID first.

I'm still checking out my images, and may post more.

Thanks, both of you.

I see Rusty's are sometimes found in Washington during the winter months: http://birdweb.org/birdweb/bird_details.aspx?id=442

I will be curious to hear what you find out from other Oregon birders. While googling I found this list of Oregon Birds: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_birds_of_Oregon and at the very bottom under Family Icteridae is the Rusty Blackbird: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rusty_Blackbird

I haven't been able to check the sites yet, what with company and the phone. But I'll try later tonight.

Very curious here too!

Rusty Blackbird....a male Brewer's would be all glossy black...no gloss on your birds...a female Brewer's has a brown eye...so not a Brewer's...therefore it must be a Rusty your birds also have the buff eyebrow. I agree with Resin...worth reporting. My Kaufman field guide says its not in your range...nice catch. I,m including a shot of a female Rusty for comparison.

a male Rusty...look's very close to what you have Tiger.

Confirmed Rusty male! Yahoo!

Oregon Birder's sent out RBA (rare bird alert), after I sent photo's, and I'm being inundated with more photo and info requests.

What a fluke. I believe the bird is gone, and I'd never have seen it IF we'd cut down the dead cherry tree it was in. The tree is only about 15 feet from the back door, and I'd told DH I didn't want it cut because so many birds use it. The cedar right behind it is too thick to see any thing that's in it. My little dead cherry tree will remain!

I wonder what the odds are that I'd have two rare birds in just six weeks time? The Oak Titmouse is at home here now. The first verified sighting in the county.

Congratulations tigerlily! It is so exciting when we see a rare one!

Congrats!

No doubt you'll have 200 birders with telescopes arranged round your garden tomorrow . . .

Resin

Yay Congrats Tiger!!!

Congrats Tiger!!!