Brewer’s Blackbird is a common and widespread blackbird of open habitats in Arizona, especially in agricultural areas, towns, and grasslands. Males are glossy black with a purplish sheen and bright yellow eyes, while females are plain brownish-gray with dark eyes, giving a marked sexual dimorphism. They are medium-sized icterids, measuring about 8–10 inches (20–25 cm) in length.
In Arizona, Brewer’s Blackbirds are residents in the northern and central regions and expand southward in winter, often forming large flocks that forage in fields, feedlots, and parking lots. They are opportunistic feeders, taking insects, seeds, and human food scraps, frequently walking on the ground in search of prey. Nesting typically occurs in shrubs, trees, or man-made structures; the female builds a bulky cup nest of grass and twigs, lined with mud.
While common in the state, their numbers have shown declines in parts of their range due to changes in agricultural practices and competition with other blackbirds and starlings. Still, Brewer’s Blackbird remains a familiar sight in Arizona, easily recognized by the male’s glossy plumage and the species’ tendency to gather in noisy flocks.
Female