Nesting Ecology of the Rusty Blackbird in Alaska and Canada

We examined the nesting ecology of the Rusty Blackbird (Euphagus carolinus) from 162 nests monitored for nest survival in Alaska and 252 incidental records from Alaska and Canada to identify important habitats for nesting and to test whether low rates of nest success are contributing to populations declines in Alaska. In coastal Alaska and throughout Canada, nests were primarily in conifers (85% of 212 nests). All conifer nests in Alaska and 80% of those in Canada were placed in spruce (Picea spp.), primarily black spruce (P. mariana). In Alaska use of small spruces (