Different kinds of blackbirds.

A variety of male blackbirds I have photographed.  

The chances are very good that you have seen at least half of these birds.  The two most common ones are the red-winged and Brewer's blackbirds.  Grackles and yellow-headed blackbirds are modestly common, although I rarely see either of these unless I am on the prairies.  Brown-headed cowbirds are brood parasites and seem to be increasing in number, much to the malignment of many passerine species.  I have only seen a boat-tailed grackle once, and that was way down in the southern States.

Blackbirds belong to the family Icteridae, which also includes orioles, bobolinks, and meadowlarks.   I have included the only species of oriole and meadowlark I have ever photographed.

Other birds belonging to the Icteridae, the same family blackbirds belong to.

The family Icteridae are also called "New World" blackbirds.  The term New World refers to species that are endemic to the Americas, whereas "Old World" refers to species endemic to Eurasia and Africa.  The Icteridae I have photographed are all originally native to North America.  

There is a complete list of all the Icteridae at this website.  Of the 23 species listed, I have photographed eight.  I only have 15 left to go in this family!

Thanks for reading.

Eric Svendsen     www.ericspix.com

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