FAMILY JCTERID^E. BLACKBIRDS, ORIOLKS, MEADOW LARKS, ETC. 223 



General plumage, black, more or less streaked and marked with buff, brown, and 

 dull white; traces of more or less red on the shoulder (lesser wing coverts). 



Red- winged Blackbird. 

 Agelaius phceniceus, and races (immature). 

 See No. 373. 



Adult birds entirely dull black; no red shoulder patch. 

 Immature birds have the upper parts more or less brown, 

 and the feathers on the underparts, tipped with rusty 

 brown. Rusty Blackbird. 



Scolecophagus carolinus (male, and immature'). 

 See No. 381. 



General plumage, dark slate or brownish slate color ; underparts, plumbeous 

 slate color. Rusty Blackbird. 



Scolecophagus carolinus (female, in summer}. 

 See No. 381. 



General plumage, black, glossed on the head with purplish or violet black; 

 the back and underparts, tinged with metallic green; no red on shoulder. 

 Western species rare in Eastern United States. 



Brewer's Blackbird. 



Scolecophagus cyanocephalus (male). 

 See No. 382. 



Throat, yellow ; belly, black ; amount of yellow on head varies according to 



age and 'season. 



Yellow-headed Blackbird. 



Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus (female). 

 See No. 372. 



