Brewer’s Blackbird
Euphagus cyanocephalus
A wide-ranging bird, the Brewer’s Blackbird, though often found around outdoor food venues, is equally at home in wild rural settings. I have seen this bird often in the Great Basin. These birds are found year round in the western USA and southern British Columbia. Places east of the Rocky Mountains, like central Colorado, eastern Wyoming, Montana, Alberta Canada and across the northern tier states to the Great Lakes, Brewer’s Blackbirds are strictly summer visitors. In the southern USA, from Arizona to the Carolinas and Florida, and into most of Mexico, winter is the only season when these birds are normally seen.
These birds range in elevation from 200 feet below sea level in southeastern California at the Salton Sea, to 11,000 feet in the Sierra Nevada mountains. Equally wide ranging is their choice of breeding habitat. We may find Brewer’s Blackbirds in fallow agricultural fields, pristine sage, disturbed rural roadsides, marshy bogs, ditches, road embankments, and many other surprising locations, such as shopping mall food courts. With such adaptability, Brewer’s Blackbirds have been colonizing ever eastward from their origins in the far western USA.
There is a difference of opinion regarding the existence of Brewer’s Blackbird subspecies. Most researchers regard them as monotypic, but others call out three or even four subspecies.
Many of my meetings with Brewer’s Blackbirds have been in California. But Oregon and Utah have provided me with enjoyable encounters with these birds. During my 2022 trip through North America, I had the pleasure of their company at Grasslands National Park in southern Saskatchewan.
43 Photos
Brewer's Blackbird(Euphagus cyanocephalus) |
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Description: Vista Grande site. Images from the SDNHM study of the Santa Rosa, San Jacinto Mountains. Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2010:06:04 11:49 |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 550 mm, f/8.0, 1/80 |
File Name: JCD9683.BrewersBlackBird-1 |
| © 2010 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Brewer's Blackbird(Euphagus cyanocephalus) |
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Description: This image was captured during a 3 hour vigil at the Mono Lake shore north of Lee Vining California. Summers at Mono Lake, when the algae blooms occur in this super-salty water, Brine-flies (or Alkali Flies) feed on the algae. Millions of birds, as many as 80 species feed on the fat and protein rich flies. |
Date Taken: 2019:08:20 16:41 |
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Location:
Mono Lake |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/14.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: BrewersBlackbird_D5X5908-MonoLake |
| © 2019 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Brewer's Blackbird(Euphagus cyanocephalus) |
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Description: Veteran's Park by the Link River (a.k.a. Klamath River) in Klamath Falls is a *go-to* destination for me when I'm in Southern Oregon. |
Date Taken: 2019:08:17 10:31 |
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Location:
Veteran's Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/16.0, 1/800 |
File Name: BrewersBlackbird_D5X4793-VeteransPark-KlamathFalls |
| © 2019 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Brewer's Blackbird(Euphagus cyanocephalus) |
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Description: Like many birds I met on this trip along the Central California coast and Piedras Blancas beach, there was a lot of molting taking place. |
Date Taken: 2019:07:29 15:23 |
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Location:
Piedras Blancas |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1600 |
File Name: BrewersBlackbird_D5X9876-PiedrasBlancas |
| © 2019 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Brewer's Blackbird(Euphagus cyanocephalus) |
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Description: Mono Lake Picnic Area in the northwest shore. Near Lee Vining in Mono County, just off US-395. |
Date Taken: 2017:07:12 7:52 |
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Location:
Mono Lake |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/4000 |
File Name: BrewersBlackBird_D5X8445-MonoLake |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Brewer's Blackbird(Euphagus cyanocephalus) |
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Description: Mono Lake Picnic Area in the northwest shore. Near Lee Vining in Mono County, just off US-395. |
Date Taken: 2017:07:12 8:11 |
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Location:
Mono Lake |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/3200 |
File Name: BrewersBlackBird_D5X8504-MonoLake |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Brewer's Blackbird(Euphagus cyanocephalus) |
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Description: Alongside the road from Burns Oregon to Malheur NWR. |
Date Taken: 2015:06:03 9:28 |
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Location:
Narrows |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/5000 |
File Name: D3X7179-BrewersBlackBird |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Brewer's Blackbird(Euphagus cyanocephalus) |
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Description: Antelope Island State Park, north of Salt Lake City, Utah. |
Date Taken: 2015:05:10 10:09 |
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Location:
Antelope Island |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/11.0, 1/400 |
File Name: D3X0421-BrewersBlackBird |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Brewer's Blackbird(Euphagus cyanocephalus) |
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Description: Safari Park (Formerly San Diego Wild Animal Park). Escondido, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2013:05:05 11:56 |
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Location:
San Pasqual |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/640 |
File Name: D3X6437-BrewersBlackBird |
| © 2013 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Brewer's Blackbird(Euphagus cyanocephalus) |
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Description: Near Lake Henshaw, south of Warner Springs, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2012:03:30 13:45 |
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Location:
Warner Springs |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/2000 |
File Name: D3X9531-BrewersBlackBird |
| © 2012 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Brewer's Blackbird(Euphagus cyanocephalus) |
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Description: Near Lake Henshaw, south of Warner Springs, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2012:03:30 13:45 |
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Location:
Warner Springs |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/1000 |
File Name: D3X9534-BrewersBlackBird |
| © 2012 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Brewer's Blackbird(Euphagus cyanocephalus) |
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Description: Braving the cold early morning winds at the Owen's River by Benton Crossing. Near Lake Crowley California. |
Date Taken: 2016:04:22 8:44 |
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Location:
Benton Crossing |
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Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: D728170-BrewersBlackBird-Female |
| © 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Brewer's Blackbird(Euphagus cyanocephalus) |
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Description: Near Oh Ridge Road at the north end of June Lake in California. |
Date Taken: 2016:05:08 16:55 |
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Location:
June Lake |
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Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: D72-1840-BrewersBlackBird |
| © 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Brewer's Blackbird(Euphagus cyanocephalus) |
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Description: Catching black midges at Veteran's Park by the Link River (a.k.a. Klamath River) in Klamath Falls is a *go-to* destination for me when I'm in Southern Oregon. |
Date Taken: 2019:08:17 10:31 |
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Location:
Veterans Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/16.0, 1/800 |
File Name: BrewersBlackbird_D5X4768-VeteransPark-KlamathFalls |
| © 2019 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Brewer's Blackbird(Euphagus cyanocephalus) |
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Description: Upper Owens River Valley, near Lake Crowley. Mono County, California. |
Date Taken: 2011:05:29 13:40 |
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Location:
Whitmore Hot Springs |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/800 |
File Name: JCD8963-BrewersBlackBird |
| © 2011 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Brewer's Blackbird(Euphagus cyanocephalus) |
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Description: Bicknell Bottoms south of Bicknell, Utah. |
Date Taken: 2015:05:07 16:51 |
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Location:
Bicknell Bottoms |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/640 |
File Name: D3X9973-BrewersBlackBird-Female |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Brewer's Blackbird(Euphagus cyanocephalus) |
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Description: At the South Tufa shores of Mono Lake. Mono County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:08:08 13:45 |
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Location:
Mono Lake |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: D3X7573-BrewersBlackBird |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Brewer's Blackbird(Euphagus cyanocephalus) |
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Description: These birds were flying vertically to flycatch, but I failed to capture that action. Malheur NWR is in southeastern Oregon, west of Steens Mountains and south of Burns Oregon. Harney County. |
Date Taken: 2017:08:30 12:05 |
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Location:
Narrows |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/8000 |
File Name: BrewersBlackbird_D5X9025-MalheurNWR |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Brewer's Blackbird(Euphagus cyanocephalus) |
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Description: At the South Tufa shores of Mono Lake. Mono County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:08:08 13:41 |
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Location:
Mono Lake |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: D3X7551-BrewersBlackBird |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Brewer's Blackbird(Euphagus cyanocephalus) |
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Description: While leaving town and headed for Texas, I spotted large flocks of blackbirds. The Tri-Colored Blackbirds caught my attention, but in the flocks were Red-Winged, Brewer's Blackbirds and European Starlings. This bird was foraging through cattle leavings near Warner Springs in eastern San Diego County, California. |
Date Taken: 2020:02:21 15:45 |
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Location:
CA-79 & S-2 |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/3200 |
File Name: BrewersBlackBird_D5X9610-WarnerSprings |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Brewer's Blackbird(Euphagus cyanocephalus) |
|
Description: While leaving town and headed for Texas, I spotted large flocks of blackbirds. The Tri-Colored Blackbirds caught my attention, but in the flocks were Red-Winged, Brewer's Blackbirds and European Starlings. This bird was foraging through cattle leavings near Warner Springs in eastern San Diego County, California. |
Date Taken: 2020:02:21 15:45 |
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Location:
CA-79 & S-2 |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/3200 |
File Name: BrewersBlackBird_D5X9600-WarnerSprings |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Brewer's Blackbird(Euphagus cyanocephalus) |
|
Description: While leaving town and headed for Texas, I spotted large flocks of blackbirds. The Tri-Colored Blackbirds caught my attention, but in the flocks were Red-Winged, Brewer's Blackbirds and European Starlings. This bird was foraging through cattle leavings near Warner Springs in eastern San Diego County, California. |
Date Taken: 2020:02:21 15:44 |
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Location:
CA-79 & S-2 |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/3200 |
File Name: BrewersBlackBird_D5X9591-WarnerSprings |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Brewer's Blackbird(Euphagus cyanocephalus) |
|
Description: While leaving town and headed for Texas, I spotted large flocks of blackbirds. The Tri-Colored Blackbirds caught my attention, but in the flocks were Red-Winged, Brewer's Blackbirds and European Starlings. This bird was foraging through cattle leavings near Warner Springs in eastern San Diego County, California. |
Date Taken: 2020:02:21 15:31 |
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Location:
CA-79 & S-2 |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/2500 |
File Name: BrewersBlackBird_D5X9458-WarnerSprings |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Brewer's Blackbird(Euphagus cyanocephalus) |
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Description: By Flat Rock near the sea-wall that shelters the Crescent City harbor from the wrath of stormy seas, I found a mixed flock of blackbirds posing nicely. |
Date Taken: 2022:03:13 8:41 |
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Location:
Flat Rock |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: BrewersBlackbird_8505890-CrescentCity-FlatRock |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Brewer's Blackbird(Euphagus cyanocephalus) |
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Description: By Flat Rock near the sea-wall that shelters the Crescent City harbor from the wrath of stormy seas, I found a mixed flock of blackbirds posing nicely. |
Date Taken: 2022:03:13 8:46 |
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Location:
Flat Rock |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: BrewersBlackbird_8505934-CrescentCity-FlatRock |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Brewer's Blackbird(Euphagus cyanocephalus) |
|
Description: By Flat Rock near the sea-wall that shelters the Crescent City harbor from the wrath of stormy seas, I found a mixed flock of blackbirds posing nicely. |
Date Taken: 2022:03:13 8:56 |
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Location:
Flat Rock |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: BrewersBlackbird_8506001-CrescentCity-FlatRock |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Brewer's Blackbird(Euphagus cyanocephalus) |
|
Description: By Flat Rock near the sea-wall that shelters the Crescent City harbor from the wrath of stormy seas, I found a mixed flock of blackbirds posing nicely. |
Date Taken: 2022:03:13 9:05 |
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Location:
Flat Rock |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: BrewersBlackbird_8506077-CrescentCity-FlatRock |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Brewer's Blackbird(Euphagus cyanocephalus) |
|
Description: By Flat Rock near the sea-wall that shelters the Crescent City harbor from the wrath of stormy seas, I found a mixed flock of blackbirds posing nicely. |
Date Taken: 2022:03:13 8:58 |
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Location:
Flat Rock |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: BrewersBlackbird_8506050-CrescentCity-FlatRock |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Brewer's Blackbird(Euphagus cyanocephalus) |
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Description: Brewer’s Blackbirds haunted the ranges wherever I visited during my visit to south Canada. I spent five nights at Grasslands National Park in southern Saskatchewan to complete my two-month tour of Canada in the spring of 2022. |
Date Taken: 2022:07:11 15:37 |
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Location:
Grasslands National Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/8000 |
File Name: BrewersBlackbird_8500511-Grasslands.NP-SK |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Brewer's Blackbird(Euphagus cyanocephalus) |
|
Description: Brewer’s Blackbirds haunted the ranges wherever I visited during my visit to south Canada. I spent five nights at Grasslands National Park in southern Saskatchewan to complete my two-month tour of Canada in the spring of 2022. |
Date Taken: 2022:07:14 10:08 |
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Location:
Grasslands National Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/8000 |
File Name: BrewersBlackbird_8501487-Grasslands.NP-SK |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Brewer's Blackbird(Euphagus cyanocephalus) |
|
Description: Brewer’s Blackbirds haunted the ranges wherever I visited during my visit to south Canada. I spent five nights at Grasslands National Park in southern Saskatchewan to complete my two-month tour of Canada in the spring of 2022. |
Date Taken: 2022:07:14 10:09 |
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Location:
Grasslands National Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/6400 |
File Name: BrewersBlackbird_8501501-Grasslands.NP-SK |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Brewer's Blackbird(Euphagus cyanocephalus) |
|
Description: Brewer’s Blackbirds haunted the ranges wherever I visited during my visit to south Canada. I spent five nights at Grasslands National Park in southern Saskatchewan to complete my two-month tour of Canada in the spring of 2022. |
Date Taken: 2022:07:14 10:09 |
|
Location:
Grasslands National Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/6400 |
File Name: BrewersBlackbird_8501517-Grasslands.NP-SK |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Brewer's Blackbird(Euphagus cyanocephalus) |
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Description: While I was surveying the beach near Battery Point, I met a large group of these blackbirds in the company of starlings. Crescent City Harbor in the far northern California coast. |
Date Taken: 2022:03:23 12:43 |
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Location:
Crescent City Harbor |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/800 |
File Name: BrewersBlackbird_8506569-CrescentCity |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Brewer's Blackbird(Euphagus cyanocephalus) |
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Description: My second visit to the fields north of Burns Oregon began in the early morning. I tried my best to capture birds like these Brewer’s Blackbirds on the west side of the road, because of the lovely light from the rising sun. |
Date Taken: 2022:04:24 9:15 |
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Location:
North Foley Drive |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: BrewersBlackbird_8504511-BurnsOregon |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Brewer's Blackbird(Euphagus cyanocephalus) |
|
Description: My second visit to the fields north of Burns Oregon began in the early morning. I tried my best to capture birds like these Brewer’s Blackbirds on the west side of the road, because of the lovely light from the rising sun. |
Date Taken: 2022:04:24 9:15 |
|
Location:
North Foley Drive |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: BrewersBlackbird_8504507-BurnsOregon |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Brewer's Blackbird(Euphagus cyanocephalus) |
|
Description: Brewer’s Blackbirds haunted the ranges wherever I visited during my visit to south Canada. I spent five nights at Grasslands National Park in southern Saskatchewan to complete my two-month tour of Canada in the spring of 2022. |
Date Taken: 2022:07:12 9:25 |
|
Location:
Grasslands National Park |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/8000 |
File Name: BrewersBlackbird_8500846-Grasslands.NP-SK |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Brewer's Blackbird(Euphagus cyanocephalus) |
|
Description: Brewer’s Blackbirds haunted the ranges wherever I visited during my visit to south Canada. I spent five nights at Grasslands National Park in southern Saskatchewan to complete my two-month tour of Canada in the spring of 2022. |
Date Taken: 2022:07:12 9:25 |
|
Location:
Grasslands National Park |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/8000 |
File Name: BrewersBlackbird_8500853-Grasslands.NP-SK |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Brewer's Blackbird(Euphagus cyanocephalus) |
|
Description: Brewer’s Blackbirds haunted the ranges wherever I visited during my visit to south Canada. I spent five nights at Grasslands National Park in southern Saskatchewan to complete my two-month tour of Canada in the spring of 2022. |
Date Taken: 2022:07:12 9:23 |
|
Location:
Grasslands National Park |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/8000 |
File Name: BrewersBlackbird_8500812-Grasslands.NP-SK |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Brewer's Blackbird(Euphagus cyanocephalus) |
|
Description: Brewer’s Blackbirds haunted the ranges wherever I visited during my visit to south Canada. I spent five nights at Grasslands National Park in southern Saskatchewan to complete my two-month tour of Canada in the spring of 2022. |
Date Taken: 2022:07:12 9:42 |
|
Location:
Grasslands National Park |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/8000 |
File Name: BrewersBlackbird_8500881-Grasslands.NP-SK |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Brewer's Blackbird(Euphagus cyanocephalus) |
|
Description: Brewer’s Blackbirds haunted the ranges wherever I visited during my visit to south Canada. I spent five nights at Grasslands National Park in southern Saskatchewan to complete my two-month tour of Canada in the spring of 2022. |
Date Taken: 2022:07:11 15:37 |
|
Location:
Grasslands National Park |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/8000 |
File Name: BrewersBlackbird_8500509-Grasslands.NP-SK |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Brewer's Blackbird(Euphagus cyanocephalus) |
|
Description: By Flat Rock near the sea-wall that shelters the Crescent City harbor from the wrath of stormy seas, I found a mixed flock of blackbirds posing nicely. |
Date Taken: 2022:03:13 8:50 |
|
Location:
Flat Rock |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: BrewersBlackbird_8505962-CrescentCity-FlatRock |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Brewer's Blackbird(Euphagus cyanocephalus) |
|
Description: While leaving town and headed for Texas, I spotted large flocks of blackbirds. The Tri-Colored Blackbirds caught my attention, but in the flocks were Red-Winged, Brewer's Blackbirds and European Starlings. This bird was foraging through cattle leavings near Warner Springs in eastern San Diego County, California. |
Date Taken: 2020:02:21 15:32 |
|
Location:
CA-79 & S-2 |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/2500 |
File Name: BrewersBlackBird_D5X9487-WarnerSprings |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Brewer's Blackbird(Euphagus cyanocephalus) |
|
Description: Black winged midges were on the menu at Veteran's Park by the Link River (a.k.a. Klamath River) in Klamath Falls is a *go-to* destination for me when I'm in Southern Oregon. These birds were feastin on the millions of tine black flying insects. |
Date Taken: 2019:08:17 9:38 |
|
Location:
Veteran's Park |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/16.0, 1/800 |
File Name: BrewersBlackbird_D5X4073-VeteransPark-KlamathFalls |
| © 2019 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
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