A common and widespread ground-dwelling icterid of the West, the Brewer’s in some ways replaces the common grackle ecologically. Monotypic. Length 9".
A slim blackbird lacking striking structural features. Male: basically black with bright yellow eyes. Strongly iridescent, with a bright blue or purplish blue sheen on the head, while the body is greenish. Bill and legs black. Female: dull brownish gray and unstreaked, with darker wings and tail. Slightly paler supercilium; dark eyes. Immature male: some young males exactly as adults, others show some buffy feather tips on breast and warmer buff tipping on back.
A summer rusty blackbird is similar, but it has a more slender pointed bill. The male Brewer’s is more strongly glossy, showing blue on head
