A North American blackbird, Euphagus carolinus (family Icteridae), breeding in Canada and Alaska and having largely grey-black plumage which is extensively tipped with brown in winter.
Origin
Mid 19th century; earliest use found in Thomas Nuttall (1786–1859), botanist.
Definition of rusty blackbird in US English:
rusty blackbird
noun
A North American blackbird, Euphagus carolinus (family Icteridae), breeding in Canada and Alaska and having largely grey-black plumage which is extensively tipped with brown in winter.
Origin
Mid 19th century; earliest use found in Thomas Nuttall (1786–1859), botanist.