The Rusty Blackbird 



Fortieth Parallel south to the Gulf coast; west over the Great Plains in migrations; 

 casually to Colorado, Montana, etc.; accidental in California, Lower California, and in 

 Greenland. 



Occurrence in California. — A casual winter visitor. Two records: Amador 

 County by H. B. Kaeding, Dec. 15, 1895; and San Clemente Island by C. B. Linton, 

 Nov. 20, 1908. 



Authorities. — Mailliard, J., Condor, vol. vi., 1904, p. 16 (in Amador Co.); 

 Linton, Condor, vol. xi., 1909, p. 194 (on San Clemente Island); Grinnell, Pac. Coast 

 Avifauna, no. 11, 1915, p. 105. 



ANY migrant northern species which nests as far west as Alaska 

 may be expected to miss now and then the arbitrary east-and-west route 

 followed by the returning hosts of his compeers, and to straggle down 

 into California instead. Only two such instances have been recorded in 

 the case of this species; but there is always a delightful possibility before 

 us. We have no details regarding the specimen taken by Mr. H. B. 

 Kaeding 1 in Amador County (Dec. 15, 1895); but the one taken by C. B. 

 Linton 2 on San Clemente Island (Nov. 20, 1908) was busily engaged in 

 catching insects in the kelp along the beach. One would sooner expect 

 a considerable company of these very sociable birds to go astray ; and when 

 they do, they will be found flocking by themselves, as they do in the 

 East. 



In their more familiar haunts, it is in some tiny glade in the heart of 

 the budding forest that one comes upon a company of these sojourners, 

 feeding, perhaps, upon the ground. They walk about with easy grace, 

 or shift by little flights, males and females flocking together, and all 

 engaged in a subdued but voluble chatter. An instant hush follows the 

 signal of alarm, and the flock rises silently to the neighboring tree tops, 

 or passes to a distant spot, where their conversation is gradually resumed. 

 As the alarm decreases the birds come dropping down, one by one, until 

 confidence is completely restored. 



"The notes of the Rusty Blackbird consist of a bubbling medley 

 of l's and r's, through which clear, high-pitched whistles or squeaks are 

 interspersed at will. Gorwhillier conveys some idea of the liquid quality 

 of the former, and expresses also in part the effort which is required to 

 produce them. The effect of a full chorus is really quite pleasing. If 

 not 'music', it is at least among the less disagreeable noises." 5 



'Reported by Joseph Mailliard, The Condor, Vol. VI., Jan. 1914, p. 16. 

 2 The Condor, Vol. XI., Nov. 1909, p. 194. 

 3 "The Birds of Ohio." 



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