Blackbirds, Meadowlarks, Cowbirds, Grackles, and Orioles
Order: Passeriformes. Family: Icteridae
The Icterids are a group of small to medium, often colourful passerine birds restricted to the New World and include the grackles, New World blackbirds, and New World orioles. Most species have black as a predominant plumage colour, often enlivened by yellow, orange or red. In Massachusetts, 12 species have been recorded.
- Bobolink, Dolichonyx oryzivorus (n)
- Red-winged Blackbird, Agelaius phoeniceus (n)
- Eastern Meadowlark, Sturnella magna (n)
- Western Meadowlark, Sturnella neglecta (R)
- Yellow-headed Blackbird, Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus
- Rusty Blackbird, Euphagus carolinus (n)
- Brewer's Blackbird, Euphagus cyanocephalus (R)
- Boat-tailed/Great-tailed Grackle* (R)
- Common Grackle, Quiscalus quiscula (n)
- Shiny Cowbird, Molothrus bonariensis (R)
- Brown-headed Cowbird, Molothrus ater (n)
- Orchard Oriole, Icterus spurius (n)
- Bullock's Oriole, Icterus bullockii (R)
- Baltimore Oriole, Icterus galbula (n)
Read more about this topic: List Of Birds Of Massachusetts