224 BIRDS OF NORTH CAROLINA 



Like the preceding, this fine bird is a good singer and a determined devourer of 

 insects, and is also deserving of our fullest protection. 



Genus Euphagus (Cass.) 



209. Euphagus carolinus (Mull.}. RUSTY BLACKBIRD. 



Description. Adult male in summer, wholly glossy black, unmarked; adult female, brownish 

 slate in summer. Winter birds of both sexes are similar, but have the ground-color more or 

 less overlaid with rusty above and buffy below. Extreme measurements of 19 specimens from 

 Raleigh: L., 8.50-9.65; W., 4.15-4.85; T., 3.16-3.95. 



Range. Eastern North America, breeding mainly north of the United States. 



Range in North Carolina. Whole State during the migrating period of the species; winters to- 

 a limited extent in the eastern section. 



FIG. 176. RUSTY BLACKBIRD. 



The Rusty Blackbird occurs in North Carolina mainly when migrating in early 

 spring and late fall, but has been observed at New Bern in early January, 1885 

 (H. H. Brimley), and at Raleigh, January 25, 1892. Outside of these dates our 

 records are only of evidently migrating birds, the actual dates being at Weaver- 

 ville, Buncombe County, from February 2 to May 2 (Cairns); at Chapel Hill, 

 February 3, 1889, and later (Pearson) ; at Pea Island, February 17 and 18, 1901 

 (Bishop); at Andrews, Cherokee County, February 27 and later (Mrs. Wilson); 

 and at Raleigh from February 15 to April 20 in spring, and from October 17 to 

 November 17 in fall (C. S. Brimley). These last are our only fall records, with 

 the exception of two observed at Chapel Hill, October 17, 1900, by MacNider. 



The Rusty Blackbird is not a particularly common bird in the State, never 

 occurring in really large flocks, but usually seen in companies of not more than 

 fifteen or twenty individuals. In autumn they are not infrequently found in woods 

 feeding on dogwood berries. Later they sometimes frequent the lowgrounds to feed 

 on frost grapes. In spring they feed much on the ground in marshy places, among 

 willows or other bushes. At all seasons they seem much easier to approach than 

 other blackbirds. 



Genus Quiscalus (Vieill.) 



The Crow Blackbirds or Crackles are large blackbirds with tail and whig about 

 equal in length. The bill is stout, and the plumage in both sexes has a more or 

 less metallic luster. 



