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Red-winged Blackbird

Agelaius phoeniceus

Photo by Steve Lenz
Published on Project Noah
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46.2041, -118.997

Field Notes

Description:

The Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) is a passerine bird of the family Icteridae found in most of North and much of Central America. It breeds from Alaska and Newfoundland south to Florida, the Gulf of Mexico, Mexico, and Guatemala, with isolated populations in western El Salvador, northwestern Honduras, and northwestern Costa Rica. It may winter as far north as Pennsylvania and British Columbia, but northern populations are generally migratory, moving south to Mexico and the southern United States. Claims have been made that it is the most abundant and best studied bird in North America.[2] The Red-winged Blackbird is sexually dimorphic; the male is all black with a red shoulder and yellow wing bar, while the female is a nondescript dark brown. Seeds and insects make up the bulk of the Red-winged Blackbird's diet. (Wikipedia)

Habitat:

Riparian

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (5)

Nice to think of a parking lot being turned into a bird area....Thanks!
Nice picture! Sounds like people are getting smart returning wet areas!
Thank you! Here, where there is water and tall grasses, there are tons of Red-winged Blackbirds. But, as you said, with the wetlands being drained the populations are shifting. On a positive note: Our area has started putting in small riparian habitats and restoring streams and ponds. For example, in one area where there used to be a dirt parking lot, there is now a reservoir for collecting rainwater. They planted reeds around it. Every spring it is full of singing Red-winged and Yellow-headed Blackbirds.
Nice photo showing the epaulets so well! Yes, I have read that it is the most abundant passerine in North America too. I wonder if this is still true with the draining of the wetlands, etc and potholes on the prairies disappearing? Some winters they stay around here (southwestern coastal BC) but most of the time they go to the coast or further south. Thanks for sharing!
Photographed
PublishedSeptember 28, 2012

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