The Red-winged Blackbird
The Red-winged Blackbird
Description
The Red-winged Blackbird is a medium sized bird measuring 9 to 10 inches in length. The male has distinctive red shoulder patches or "epaulets" which are visible when flying. At rest, a pale yellow wing bar can also be seen. They have long pointed wings and legs that are made for walking rather than hopping. Its beak is cone-shaped and sharp.The female Red-winged Blackbird is considerably smaller than her mate measuring just 7 inches in length. Her plumage is blackish-brown rather than the deep black worn by the male of the species. The epaulets are absent as well. The juveniles resemble the female but have buff colored feather fringes.
Habitat
The Red-winged Blackbird can be found across the entire continental United States, most of Canada, and as far south as El Salvador during the breeding season. They will spend the winters wherever they can find food and open water. They inhabit freshwater wetlands, saltwater marshes, meadows and prairies. When feeling threatened, the Red-wing Blackbird will respond aggressively. Size doesn't matter. They have been known to attack hawks and Ospreys, even humans.
Breeding and Nesting Habits
The Red-winged Blackbird are polygynous. A male will defend his territory and up to 10 females at any given time. However, females will copulate with other males and often lay clutches of mixed paternity.The nest is cup shaped and can be hidden in shrubs or attached to tall marsh grasses. A clutch of 3 to 5 eggs are laid and then incubated by the female for 11 to 12 days. The hatchlings are blind and naked but are ready to leave the nest within 10 days. Pairs of Red-winged Blackbirds raise 2 to 3 clutches per season with a new nest for each clutch.
The Red-winged Blackbird is fond of sunflower seeds and will stake a claim on a birdfeeder and aggressively defend it.
Diet
The Red-winged Blackbird feeds on plant seeds and grains, but will eat insects such as spiders and grasshoppers as well. In season fruits such as blueberries and blackberries will get their attention as well. Avant Garden Cottage Lantern Feeder
Avant Garden 8501-3 Cottage Lantern Bird Feeder
Amazon Price: $18.87 (as of 07/11/2009)
I love watching the birds in my backyard, and nothing attracts the birds better than a birdfeeder. The Avant Garden Cottage Lantern Feeder is an excellent choice.
Voice
The Red-winged Blackbird can be very vocal when it feels threatened. It's warning call is a scratchy oak-a-lee or a check-check-check.Listen to the sound of the Red-winged Blackbird: Sound Byte: Red-winged Blackbird, National Park Service
Recognize Bird Songs
When the breeding season is over, the Red-winged Blackbirds will gather in huge flocks, sometimes number in the millions.
As far as the eye can see...
Falcon Patrol
Red-winged Blackbird along with the Grackles and the Common Blackbird cause thousands of dollars to crops every year. Rather than poison the birds as has been done in the past, some farmers are using falcons to disturb the roosts and break up the flocks. Red-winged Blackbirds
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Amazon Price: (as of 07/11/2009)
John James Audubon spent a lifetime documenting the behavior of, and drawing the birds of North America. Audubon's Masterpieces is a collection of 150 of his best works.
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If you want to see a gyrfalcon or a fork-tailed flycatcher, this resource might be your best help in spotting them. Mostly for serious birders intent on adding species to their life lists, America's 100 Most Wanted Birds provides detailed strategies for locating 100 of the most uncommon-to-rare bird species in the United States.
What interesting backyard birds have you seen lately?
seedplanter wrote...
Lizzy, the photo "As Far as the Eye Can See" is amazing! I would love to see a sight like that. The red-winged blackbird is stunning, and I remember the first time I saw one. That patch of red was such a surprise.
Beautiful lens. I'm going to RT it @Twitter.
Posted May 13, 2009
marsha32 wrote...
We've actually been having a lot of woodpeckers the past week or so...quite interesting.
Posted March 01, 2009
mbgphoto wrote...
I'm visiting bird lenses today. Great way to spend a cold winters day! Great lens 5*****
Posted January 31, 2009
Tipi wrote...
"There's a red-winged black bird!" How many times have I said that out loud when I have seen one? They really do stand out and are fun to watch! - You do have away of causing me to recall good memories, and I like that very much. Your lens is very nice, well thought out and artfully done Lizzy! (passion here!)
Posted January 29, 2009
About the Author
Lensmaster ElizabethJeanAllen, aka Lizzy Jean, has been a member since March 16 2008, has rated 3,690 lenses, favorited 454, and has created 169 lenses from scratch. Lizzy Jean donates their royalties to Squidoo Charity Fund. This member's top-ranked page is "The Mallard Duck". See all my lenses
Why Birds Do That
Why Birds Do That: 40 Distinctive Bird Behaviors Explained & Photographed
Amazon Price: $12.44 (as of 07/11/2009)
Birds are fascinating. Their behavior is complex, often comical. Some sing while others do not. Why Birds Do That explains forty distinctive bird behaviors and is enhanced with numerous photographs. It is a must have book for both the backyard bird watcher as well as the avid birder.
Resources used to construct this page
Peterson, T.P. & Peterson, V.M. 2002. Birds of Eastern and Central North America, Fifth Edition. Houghton Mifflin Company, New York, N.Y.
Cornell University Laboratory of Ornithology
Seattle Audubon Society
Red-winged Blackbird, BC Adventure Network
by ElizabethJeanAllen
I tell my students to Learn from the Past, Live in the Present, and Plan for the Future. With Squidoo I can do all three.
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